Zambia has not recorded any new COVID-19 case in the last 48 hours, Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has disclosed and added that the first two individuals that tested positive to the virus have been discharged and declared negative.
Speaking Saturday afternoon when he gave the latest 15th COVID-19 update, Dr. Chilufya said that cumulatively the cases stand at 36 with 1 death recorded and that the 34 are isolated in Lusaka while the two remain in Masaiti under observation.
“We had 53 tests and all of them tested negative. We are heightening surveillance so as to ensure that we do early detection and isolation in order to stop new cases” he said.
He has further said that 1,526 who underwent mandatory quarantine have successfully completed their isolation and have been released.
Dr Chilufya however expressed his and also registered President Edgar Lungu’s concern on the decision by the Zambia Golf Union to continue with their activities and ordered them to immediately cease all activities amidst the pandemic.
He emphasized the need to avoid unnecessary travels and to exercise social distancing and avoid overcrowding in bus stops, and other public places and further thanked the church for heeding to the directive from the President and the health authorities.
“Let act in solidarity of our neighbors and our family, let us avoid mass gatherings, let us wear masks and in solidarity we can effectively address the pandemic” Dr Chilufya said.
He has since thanked all cooperating partners home and abroad for the continued support and generosity and assured that all that have been given will be used appropriately and prudently in order to effectively deal with the matter at hand.
And regarding the presidential order to recruit more health workers, Dr Chilufya urged all the job aspirants to avoid coming physically but use electronic means to apply and assured that there will be no bureaucracy along the process to ensure the directive is expedited to enhance human capital in the fight against the pandemic.
Admirable! Dr Chilufya steadfastly works on. Him, and all the medical staff supporting him, ought to be applauded.
This man and the medical fraternity in zambia deserve a nomination for the nobel peace prize. Ba chilufya has done a great service during difficult times. And to think a month ago the CNNpresenter likened our medical facilities to that of a hopeless death trap. This is a lesson for all those who look down upon us. We are not f.o.o.ls. we hope the European and American will swallow pride and contact us for advice on best way to deal with this virus. Kz
This man’s data collection techniques is highly questionable…is he testing people in Lusaka only how about those outside Lusaka. Why are they turning back people when they are not from the affected areas. Chilufya is not a professional who would not feel no shame in cooking and falsifying results …this is why such roles should be left with Chief Medical Officers.
The impostor forgets that Brian Mushimba took a jet to RSA for a briused arm and Lazy Lungu flies to RSA for a mere dental check on his rotten Chawama chibuku stained teeth.
I don’t understand why you people are disappointed that no cases recorded in Zambia.
Let us support this team led by Dr Chilufya under the command of ECL by following their instructions so that their efforts are not looked on as useless.
Mutende I agree. Thank you for your patriotism
News coming in from our foreign affairs team is that the British prime minister’s pregnant girlfriend has caught the Corona virus . We pray for her and the babies health. God protect them. Amen
Why should the British prime Minister be of our concern? Why should we pray for him and not for our fellow nationals?
I have seen in other countries officials are busy spraying public places and in the recent past I used to see companies spray compounds and public places to prevent malaria why can’t the same step be taken now I think it will be more helpful to spray public places than a lockdown.
2 consecutive weeks would be much better, considering the lag resulting from the period between incubation and symptoms. But we don’t want to be ungrateful to The Almighty. It is in Him alone that we put our trust. We can’t trust any foreign doctors who want to come and test their unknown vaccines on us.
Africans have no history of hostility towards non-Africans. We have always embraced foreigners and showed them love. And yet they take our kindness for weakness.
Kasonde spray with what exactly? You can spray all you want but if people are not exercising social distancing and responsible personal hygiene, then all those efforts are irrelevant. Kz
Nine chale I agree with you. God bless you and your wife. Please stay safe my brother
@Mutende, please give praise where due,why politicising everything. Normal people are praising what our healthy experts are doing. But you are condemning Dr. Chilufya who is doing everything possible in making sure that lives of those who are affected with the deadly disease survive. This is not a time for politics, it’s a time to work together to combat the covid 19. Let’s encourage our healthy experts and not discouraging them.
There is nothing to talk about thieves who want to cleanse themselves out of covind 19 pandemic which is affecting our nation and entire world. Social Poverty relief Funds from Donors was stolen by known Zambians within PF regime- who can trust this government. Just observe the normal medical advice – clean your hands with disinfectants, social distancing, self isolate for 7 days and 14 days depending on symptoms experienced and volunteer yourself for tests to protect others and Zambia.. This is not Dr Chitalu Chilufya instructions but World Healthy Organisation and our chief medical officer.
Some one proposed a Zambian for Nobel Price Award winner – my foot!, the world only knows Dr Kenneth Kaunda our founding father of Zambia – the queen recognises KK.
Iwe Zennia this has nothing to do with Dr Chilufya pantu mu lumbafye ichilumbelumbe. If there are no new corona virus cases that doesnt mean its because of Dr Chilufya. He is not the one standing at airports and borders and making sure no more Pakistanis and Italians fly in. he is not ensuring Zambians dont report illnesses.
However, if Zambia has cases of corona and these get succesfully treated yes you can then say thumbs up to Dr Chilufya and his Health staff.
True
Zambia Airways Corporation Ltd, P.O. Box 30272, Ndeke House, LUSAKA
State Capture: Nice old days! Now Ndeke House is for Corona Virus!
I don’t agree with what he is saying, I know these PF government is full of liars and I won’t be surprised to hear by Monday 10 more cases will be registered. So voluntary would be the best to go about testing. The incubation period for this disease is 14 days and if Zambia is still allowing people from other countries more likely that the cases will increase. The best assurance for the cases to drop would be lockdown the country contain the virus that way as well as maintaining the existing measures set.
What really bothers me are the low figures of people being tested. You test 53 people out of a population if 17 million and based on that you then report that they are no new cases!!!!. This is very scary
Dr.Chilufya and Hon.Siliya are doing a splendid job.Bravo to president Edgar Lungu too for providing good leadership during this trying moment!!Covid-19 has brought PF leadership closer to the Zambians once more.I predict PF to come out of covid-19 stronger and highly loved than few months before especially in urban Zambia!!!May God continue blessing Zambia.The measures put in place by PF Govnt are bearing fruits!!We are a Christian nations,so God is hearing our prayers,thus covid 19 is already defeated in Zambia in the Name of Jesus Christ!!PLEASE GOD DO NOT ALLOW ANY NEW COVID 19 CASE IN ZAMBIA AND HELP THE WORLD TOO!!
There is only God to thank here! African noses are flared, so spread and wide-open, and the nasal cavities are constantly dry with water activity of less than 0.001 similar to that of dried wood in the desert. This implies that your desert-like condition nasal cavities cannot support the vegetative growth of microbes or fusion of viruses. So coronavirus cannot survive in your flared noses. African noses only support fungal growth!
Of course, Dr Chilufya is not standing at the airport – he can’t be in both places. He is doing his duty supported by other medical staff behind the scenes, including workers standing at the airport. And if there are other cases of infection he’s not aware of, it would be wrong for him to make up numbers to satisfy expectations.
What duty? Tell us
What both places? Who wants him here and there?
PF bandits government full of lies….they will never disclose the actual data…..they denied selling Chimbokaila and now they’ve admitted….and soon they will tell you that more people died of Coronavirus than previously reported…useless Politicians
These are spineless liars, deceiptors, crooks, bandits and robbers etc.
PM it like you don’t understand the methodology being used. The methodology they are using in research we call it snowball sampling. First identify one person or object you want. Then you ask that person to lead to another person. In this case if you find someone + you ask him or her people he has been contact with physically, then they will follow those people.
Your method is simple but not useful. You pick 500 people in Chawama test them. You go to Kapiri pick 900 people you test them. Go Kaputa pick 500. In a week you test 1000000 and find1 person positive or 0 and you say you are working.
What has dr chilufya done to stop the
Corona virus?Apart from daily briefing with Dora .Is that what you
Call a commendable job.? Let him be taken to Italy to do same job to see if the
Numbers will drop.
Let’s thank the countries that have imposed lockdowns and closed borders, this has lessen traffic even in our country and lessen contact between contact and traveling both for the Zambians and foreigners, let’s just hope these measures put up by these countries help us to minimize the numbers.
True. Transmission is not stopped by testing. Praise him if he stoprevents transmission
Kudos to Dr. Chitalu Chilufya and his team of Doctors and Nurses not forgetting other frontline staff who are risking their own lives to save the lives of others.
May God continue to bless them all with strength and wisdom through this hardship.
@Kaizar Zulu, I totally agree with you, our team in Zambia has done an admirable job and hope other super nations can learn from Zambia!!
Wauze, we have enough floods this season, go drop yourself in one.
Thank you to COVID-19. On the checklist for 2021 presidential candidates the boxes for Dr Chilufya are ticked as follows:
1. communication to citizens
2. ability to answer questions from citizens
3. international recognition/respect
4. competency in at least one profession
5. ability to hold regular press conferences – ( this one carries 30% of the total marks -:)))) )
6. honesty with facts and information
7. ability to consult
.
.
.
.
.
Minimum number of marks required is 50%+1.
Results to be announced as soon as COVID-19 is over, to allow enough time for nominations.
Are you telling us that your parte has a rotational presidential post for 2 regions only?
…but free him from praise singing. Or maybe it’s a political tactic?
Thumb up to the almighty God for his unfailing love upon the Zambian people we say thank you Lord and to the government, doctors, nurses nd stake holders may the good Lord grant you more wisdom to conquer more challenging situations in our daily lives let us learn a lesson from dis plague by investing more in our country coz we are Zambians nd we remain Zambians alot is to be done impower Zambian for the greater Zambia
This is good news Hon. Chilufya you are a great man. Let’s put concerted efforts together to keep this virus at bay. In Jesus’ name we strongly bind this virus. It won’t decimate the population of Zambia. Twakana twakana!
Why is he a great man?
At a time like this u would wish those who always trot to south africa for medicals to want medicals then see wat they would do it would help someone invest heavily in our medical system .
Yes lockdown should be enforced all the time so that governments realize that they should build health facilities that are good enough for all their citizens
@Mutende….Thank you for trying to explain the methodology being used. Its true I dont understand. I would be more confortable if they were using figure like the ones you have quoted but not 53. I may still be missing something.
The numbers Chilufya is presenting do not reflect the true picture. This disease doubles every 4 days and there is no reason it would behave differently in Zambia.While SA is testing 40 000 people daily Chilufya and his anemic healthcare are testing 58 people and misleading the nation.
True you can’t praise a minister for no new cases unless you are not thinking. What if he hasn’t tested broadly enough?
This is like praising a detective for not catching any criminals.
Wait till June 2020 when it gets cold and tell me that avoiding lockdown was a good idea! We will then see whether or not your premature praises of Chilufya and Dora, ECL are worth it. Loleleni bane, takalapya, COVID-19 teyakupenenako!