1, 231 Covid-19 cases recorded

… as second dose vaccination drive to resume June 23

THE country has recorded 1, 231 Covid-19 cases out of 10, 015 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health has said.

And the Ministry of Health has announced that the country’s Covid-19 vaccination programme is set to resume on June 23 for the second dose.

Permanent Secretary in charge of Technical Services Kennedy Malama said yesterday the country has recorded 1, 231 new cases of Covid-19 out of 10, 015 tests conducted and six deaths recorded in the last 24 hours in Lusaka and Southern provinces.

Dr Malama also said the country will receive an additional 108, 000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines by June 21.

Dr Malama said these will go towards supplementing vaccines assigned for second dose recipients as well as those yet to receive the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

He said Government has continued making strides in mobilising more vaccines through the Africa vaccine acquisition trust and other options as approved by cabinet, with an additional 100, 000 Sinopharm doses expected within weeks.

He said the country has recorded 1, 231 new cases of Covid-19 out of 10, 015 tests conducted and six deaths recorded in the last 24 hours in Lusaka and Southern provinces.

During the routine Covid-19 briefing yesterday, Dr Malama cautioned that the country is likely to reach 500 in-patients by next week thereby straining health systems.

And Director of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Professor Lloyd Mulenga said 400 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in schools in the last five days.

Prof Mulenga however said learners have presented mild symptoms and have been quarantined in facilities as well as homes, with no mortalities recorded.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Refugees Abdon Mawere has disclosed that 64 refugees and members of the host communities have tested positive to Covid-19.

Mr Mawere said the numbers are from the three refugees settlements Mantampala, Mayukwayukwa and Meheba, mong them 14 school going children.