Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has announced that Zambia has only recorded one COVID-19 case in the last 24:hrs bringing the total number of positive cases to 29.
“In the last 24 hrs Zambia has recorded one new case of COVID-19. We carried out 50 tests in the last 24 hours and only one was positive this brings the number of positive cases to 29 .” He said during a press briefing on Sunday
Dr. Chilufya said the new case is from a Lusaka based Male adult who travelled to Pakistan.
“And the new case is a Lusaka based male adult with a history of travel to Pakistan and returned aboard Emirates flight EK713 on 18th March 2020.” He said .
He added that the patient has since been transferred to an isolation center and all his contacts are being tested in line with standard protocols .
Meanwhile, the Minister has stated that the previous 28 patients are in two facilities, one in Lusaka and one in Ndola’s Masaiti area.
He says one among the 28 is severely ill but stable while the rest have remained very stable. He added that the one who is severely ill has an underlining chronic respiratory disorder and is now being supported with oxygen.
“This Patient is now being supported by oxygen but I emphasize that this is a patient who has been in the care of health workers at a private facility suffering from a chronic disease. This patient is receiving special treatment at one of our facilities.” Dr. Chilufya emphasized.
He said the patient has history of contacts from Pakistan and South Africa.
Globally 30,894 people have died because of COVID -19.
Dr. Chitalu Chilufya said his Ministry will continue being alert and will pick positive cases and isolate them for management. He has further called on all Zambians to enhance social distancing among.
He said all Zambians must adhere to the measures which were stipulated by President. Edgar Lungu in his National Address on 25th March 2020 if the pandemic is to be fought.
Meanwhile Chief Government Spokesperson Hon. Dora. Siliya has thanked the Church in the country for taking a bold step in the fight against the pandemic.
This was after the Three Church Mother Bodies declared March 28th 2020 as a day of prayer and fasting against COVID-19.
Please keep it up, we must commend our hard working medical teams. Like Boris Johnson did in UK, I call for a minute of clapping for them.
And Dr Chifufya please avoid the praise worshipping stuff when updating us, we are all in this together.
But this man has done an amazing job. The UK can learn from zambia because we are doing well . You will note that the only criticism of Zambia handling of covid is coming from those in diaspora.The problem is that zambian asylum seekers abroad will never accept or appreciate when things in zambia are going well given the current unfortunate circumstances. They have become worshippers of their formal colonial masters. So even when their adopted country England is experiencing thousands of deaths,they will still find a reason to criticize Zambia which is not recording deaths. Ubututu ba diaspora
These Ministers now they are busy watching CNN and copying how its done in the west not the way you handle cholera which is more deadly than corona….Kaizer Zulu and Lusambo its about time you started respecting Zambians in the diaspora at least you can learn a thing or two from our exposure ..
Anonymous what can we learn from America which is projected to have over 1.2 million deaths and the UK so far saying deaths below 200k will be a huge achievement. What can we learn from such countries?
@junior jj i thought am the only one who had noticed that our minister”s praise and worship during updates is just too much,while most countries are praising medics, in pakistan medical personnel are been saluted for by armed forces, here the minister,can mention the word his excellence a dozen times, I wonder if that is necessary? with sports events put off, i wont be surprised if betting companies come up with game to predict how many times he will mention the words “his excellence”.
PLEASE,THIS IS MY HONEST AND HUMBLE APPEAL THAT LET THE MINISTER BE HONEST ABOUT THIS COVID 19.THIS NUMBER BEING TALKED ABOUT MY STRONGEST FEELING IS THAT THE NUMBER IS HIGHER THAN THIS. WE HAVE ALOT OF MEDIOCRE CHAPS LIKE KZ,LUSAMBO WHO ARE NOT SO OBJECTIVE AND WOULD ONLY WANT THERE OPINION TO BE HEARD OR RESPECTED. WHAT, CAN UK LEARN FROM ZAMBIA?STEALING FUNDS MEANT FOR THE HOSPITALS? THEY ARE FAR AHEAD OF US. YOU,ARE THE SAME PEOPLE KZ AND YOUR GROUP WHO HAVE TAKEN US ABACK IN THE COLONEL ERA. BUT,YOUR PAY BACK TIME IS AROUND THE CORNER. REMEMBER THE LAW MAKER U BEAT,THE POLICE ETC
I emphasize that this is a patient who has been in the care of health workers at a private facility suffering from a chronic disaster.
Most times Kaizer Zulu has been foolish on this platform but today he has said something slightly sensible. I have actually noticed one thing about KZ, this man can actually be intellegent or even wise if he chooses to and I know he sometimes does that. His message is simple and straight forward, Diasporians please if your relevance in the diaspora is questionable come back home (except it should be after the corona has passed) and make a contribution to mother Zambia.
Wait and See..howmany have been tested???
What amazing job has he done? How many Zambians have been tested? Making occasional announcements of the number of infected people is not an amazing job. A lot of countries have been on this path before. In America at one point there were only 15 infected people allegedly from abroad…..and Trump was boasting that he has done an incredible job protecting Americans from the virus. Look at the situation in America now. To be honest, Zambia is exposed. The government has only taken half measures which do not make sense knowing how the virus spreads. Zambia is a petri dish.
I may be in diaspora but I very much appreciate all the efforts by Zambian health workers to contain this virus. Our hearts will always be with you our people, no matter how far we are away from home.
We have to be thankful to God that while other countries are grappling with 5 – 6 digit figures, we are still seeing low double digits. The fact that all these cases can still be traced from people who travelled weeks ago shows that we are not dealing with a local spread yet. If we manage to sealing off this cluster of imported cases and break the chain of transmission, we should be fine.
Kaizer Zulu….its not called the United States of America for nothing….red white and blue…you can learn a lot from the USA….our mothers,fathers,families and friends die every year in Zambia because of cholera and thats because our Ministers don’t care and chorela normally effects the poor souls in the slams…why would chitalu chilufya and Kaizer Zulu care when they drive around in chorela proof huge SUVs and they live in chorela proof neighborhoods
Keizer Zezulu, so fixated with hatred, there is no enemy outside your soul and cronies around you, real enemy is within you, greed, ego, anger and hate.
Your boxed life in Zambia is no standard to be admired, Zambia can not even deal with perennial cholera epidemic, how can superficial photos with other photos contrasting the same scenario be a praise worth effort to fight covid-19. Tell your lazy man to ramp-up and show leadership as we see other leaders in the world raising to the challenge of national duty.
Umwana sha yenda will never appreciate better cooked meals outside a mum’s kitchen.
The question we should be asking Chilufya is how many Ventilators are at this isolation centre and what protection and testing is there for staff at this centre.
Munadekhane there is difference between well travelled and an illusion that one is well travelled because you live in a foreign country. You are the latter. However, I can bet my life I am probably more well travelled than majority of people on this forum. Just because we work and live in Zambia does not meant we cannot travel abroad. If anything I hate travelling now and find it too tiring. I would rather send a junior staff who is excited about seeing the world rather than myself travel.
@ tarino you should be more concerned about the shortage of ventilators in the UK from the news I read today. I would be worried if I were you because I am sure if you catch the virus, they won’t class you as high priority for ventilators. The fact that your an African may even put you far down the list. I have read that they are now choosing who to give ventilators in the UK, with those likely to die being left out. How sad for “great” Britain. Come home papa
I have reviewed the reports made again Kaizar Zulus account and find that he has not broken any rules. In fact, upon closer inspection, I find that Tarino Orange has broken many of our rules. I would like to take this opportunity to issue a warning to Tarino Orange. A continuation of this behaviour may result in you being banned from our website. You were banned previously under the alias of jay. Do not let history repeat itself. Sorry I forgot to add, anyone found breaching our rules shall be blocked.
Kaizer Zulu and Lusambo…you see how the toilet cleaners and health cares are respected in the west….Presidents praising health cares and toilet cleaners and yet in Zambia you insult them…..A clean and healthy country is what we need and everything else will fall into place
Ah but ka KZ kakali. Hahaha. I am glad that we now have somebody whom they put these boy tarino and spaka in there place. Keep boxing them ba KZ. We look up to you
Very premature and immature comments from so-called KZ. Most people are concerned about Covid-19 regardless of where they are and have a right to observe and criticize measures. Some countries in the West had a slow response, yes. Instead of urging the Zambian authorities to learn from this, you are praising them because the number is 29. Borders are still porous and the 50 people allowed gathering is illogical. Chilufya shouldn’t also be providing information that may identify those with the virus in a country that has an embedded stigmatizing attitude
JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE!
We have made steady progress as a country in dealing with cholera.
Sorry I dont debate with impostors!!
Anyone praising the mostly abhorrent comments from the likes of KZ need their heads examined. The character has been planted here to be divisive, spout propagandist sentiments on behalf of a dying regime and hope that somewhat this will ensure survival and perpetuate the decadent lifestyles of the PF mafia
Mr KZ you may be a more well travelled person in your undisclosed missions, a means which never afforded you an authentic and rational view of places outside Independence Avenue. Your view of London is not the same as lived, trained and worked in London.
Concerned with your racist propaganda that in ConD-19 fight, British government chooses who to give ventilators based on ethnicity. People of African origin are last on the list. That abhorrent and uncivil comment may bar you from ever coming to Britain or Europe. Ask Nkandu Luo she is a prohibited person in USA. Be civilised in your discourse.
Munadekhanya and you think I would be worried if UK stopped me from coming there ? I have everything I need and want in my country . I don’t need to go to Europe to make myself feel better about who I am. For your information I am more welcome there than you who they see as a sponging off their resources. At least with me they know I have no incentive for staying there. The right wing is on the rise. Brexit, the gains of conservatives in labour strong holds.. if that is not a signal of a British population wanting foreigners out then kaya. Why force yourself to be somewhere you not welcome?
The health minister chitalu thinking is unprofessional. You should talk about worse case senario numbers to contact convos 19 mathematically not myopic.
Ati only 1 case , you mean the virus will wait for to think logically.