The Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has said that that all Zambia’s statistics on COVID-19 are accurate and not manipulative and that there is no need for government to falsify figures.
Reacting to social media reports questioning the accuracy of the figures the government has been publishing during the 20th COVID-19 update, the Health Minister expressed concern with people peddling falsehoods on social media in regards to Coronavirus cases and wondered why people are coming up with wrong statistics and assured that Zambia has a reliable surveillance system that works silently and effectively.
Dr. Chitalu said that the government is not doing things haphazardly but doing everything based on scientific research while resources have been placed in contact tracing, diagnostics, quarantine, human capital which are essential for case management, risk communication.
“Let not politicize this fight but celebrate the legacy together. When the country is faced with such a thing, countrymen have to come together across the political divide and work together and celebrate together when it is overcome” he said.
“Let us move in solidarity with the guidelines that have been put in place by President Edgar Lungu in order to win the Coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
Dr. Chitalu urged the members of the public to have faith in systems put in place by the government and to rest assured that the government was doing everything possible to ensure that all suspects and their contacts are traced and tested for COVID-19 and dispelled allegations that there are more cases of COVID 19 in the nation which have not been picked out because the nation hasn’t been conducting tests on everyone.
On the latest numbers, Dr. Chitalu said that two more Coronavirus patients have been discharged and that no positive test was recorded in the last 24 hours from the 104 cases tested, making it a clean sheet for the past 5 days.
Dr. Chilufya has also disclosed that two more patients discharged bring the total number of full recoveries to 7 with 1 death from the 39 cases cumulatively out of 1085 cases with active cases now standing at 31.
He further said 1,601 people out the 7,756 have been released after completing the 14 days mandatory quarantine.
Dr. Chilufya disclosed that 631 alerts have been screened and have been discharged home after they tested negative.
And Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya advised the public to be wary of some traditional healers claiming to have the cure for COVID-19.
Ms. Siliya urged the people to continue observing instituted measures of preventing COVID-19 such as social distancing and maintaining personal hygiene.
Why are these morons wearing face masks …why not practice social distancing or televise your press conferences on social media.
As for your test results only a Grade 5 pupil would believe Chilufya’s cooked test results.
Even in Europe and the US there are many who keep questioning the figures presented to them by government. There is no 100% accuracy when dealing with this outbreak because the situation is constantly changing. What we are getting only updates but in my opinion very close to the real situation. Instead of arguing about figures, we should all be playing our part in supporting our government in this struggle and adhering to restriction measures.
Coronavirus is not money making, I see no reason for PF to exaggerating figures as they are known of to do.
Yes Anonymous has been questioning the so called testing and figures……looks like only a few privileged individuals and especially govt officials are being tested….I know ordinary Zambians are dying of Coronavirus and the dull Minister of health is giving Zambians fake data as instructed by Lungu…..
We are fully in support of government in the fight against the Covid 19.
Not long ago a country wide door to door HIV testing was about to be conducted.
Why not do the same for Covid 19 .
Europe , America etc are reporting more cases and deaths because they are conducting a lot of tests.
Just posing with masks these PF bandits and yet poor people are dying in the komboni…no proper sanitation…you sitting in your cozy office wearing a sagical mask….useless government officials….
We know the number of cases is soaring because I read some where that no testing has been carried out for the past 5 days. These liars, this is not something to conceal, this disease is real and you won’t manage this disease like gassing issues. People will die like flies. Do the honorable thing and conduct the testing right away.
Take a leaf from the Swedish, it was life as usual and they were laxed until now that the cases have increased and more deaths continue to increase. Your neighbors are on lockdown what are you waiting for,? Prevention is better than cure!
We are not doing enough tests!
An average of 100 tests per day for the whole Zambia is under screening! A scale up of tests is needed including roll out of testing capacity to all provincial hospitals!
Our statistics will be statistically significant when we see more tests being done! South Africa is doing over a 1000 tests per day and are capturing cases early for isolation before infection spreads. Test, Test and more testing is the safest and quickest way to contain epidemics! After testing, isolate, treat and trace contacts!
If serious testing was carried out these thieves would be appealing for donations
for testing kits. If you can’t see any reason why to falsify results by politicans then you are very gullible.
Thank you minister for responding to these diaspora false allegations meant to tarnish a hardworking government. If our efforts were being misrepresented, then why aren’t there more fatalities? Common sense dictates that if our fight against covid is poor then there would be more deaths
However we find that Zambia has recorded only one unfortunate death, has made recoveries on a number of patients. Meanwhile the countries you ran away to because you thought they were heaven on earth in Europe, are now recording thousands of deaths. Better keep quiet and concentrate on keeping yourselves safe otherwise you will die uko kwine ku engeelandee
But was it not this same minister who inadvertently disclosed some ministers and PSs are inflicted by COVID 19 until the Veep told him the press was in the house? Now, where are these ministers and PSs in his statistics? Damn liars, kunya!
Ka Kainyo Lungu wabe tole pakalukobo! Just because you failed Grade 12 and had to end up as a lab assistant and had no chance of migrating to the UK under the skills program shouldn’t make you such a bitter damn brat!
Are those bird faeces on cliDora Slit, neck?
According to the Corona update have Zambia just done 619 test, and i am sure i heard for like 2-3 weeks ago that OH WE HAVE BEEN TESTING 3000 ??? So ??? Of course do we not have ANY believe in PF or Lungu, Bandit´s and Thief´s , Corrupt pack #FreeZambia #Notoocorruption
Look on worldometers.info/coronavirus/
Chilufya and team are doing the right things under the circumstances a.d limited resources. Some bloggers here think the MOH should start testing door to door for all the 17million Zambians. Some school type of laboratory science???Here we are dealing with real issues. MOH knows how the disease is spread. Now some maguams think some kononi people who had not been in contact with anyone and has never been out of their huts should be tested. The focus is those coming through our borders. Lots of anti-govt campaigners are not happy with results so far. Your predictions of hundreds dieing has not come yet. God is on our side.
Roy let’s say hypothetically I failed my g12 and you were the clever buffoon that ended up abroad. Well I am now serving my country in a very importance capacity while you are a minority in a country where you are viewed as an ape. Nomba tell me, who is more clever between the two of us ? Why did you fail to make it in Zambia if you are as clever as you say ba roy? Don’t lie to us. Wali chikopo fye iwe
Hey KZ. I think we are warming up to the idea of a Chitalu Chilufya candidacy. Despite the investigation hanging over his head, at least he is viable and articulate.
Because he is not corrupt and makes an honest living which is not known to politicians in Zambia and people around them. Even now they would steal money donated to contain the virus. Stop pretending being the corruption advisor. Show you true identity.
@matumbo if MOH were ready to start a countrywide door to door testing for HIV . Is it some school laboratory science theory as you put it?
Please lets not trivialize the importance of testing more people . Other countries have intesified on testing , testing, testing.
We warned you, do not rely on characters like KZ to boost up unreliable statistics. Even the little credibility need to be discarded – empirical research is the only way to authenticate statis – pay him the 13th cheque.
“Let us move in solidarity with the guidelines that have been put in place by President Edgar Lungu in order to win the Coronavirus pandemic,” Dr chilufya said.
You mean to say that the supremo still rules by directives? Even when it is a job for professionals?
Chilufya tests some 72 truck drivers after driving them in a convoy to UNZA because he only has a two labs to analyse samples in Lusaka..miraculously they are all negative after that he lets them go and Chilufya tells his staff no one tests leave everything at 39 cases then goes to the bar.
Zambian doomsayers. If the govt reports that 1000s have died in Zambia, looks like to some people we shall be closer to USA or UK. The doomsayers want big numbers so that they are seen to be doing something. Unfortunately for you guys, the truth is that we just dont have those numbers, not yet at least. I for one will pray that no more positive cases are recorded locally, maybe the chaps in the diaspora and their families, those that want the big numbers, should test positive and die wherever they are. Statistics will be recorded no problem. As for us, let us continue receiving Gods grace.
UPND cadres want more Zambians to die from COVID-19 so that HH can have a better chance of winning in 2021. Unfortunately that won’t happen as those of us who will remain alive will not vote for Halusa Hagain
Some times it is amazing to hear someone say these are false figure. How did you know that they are false? Where are you getting the data? Could there be some people are paid to spread the virus and are reporting their figures and not tarring with government? What is their frame of reference? Is their commission reducing due low figures reported by government? Concerned citizen.
‘Anonymous’ you are misinformed, His Excellency President Edgar Lungu could not have instructed the Minister of Health to falsify data given his high office. Are you not happy that our nation is protected by the Almighty God? So far the country hasn’t recorded any new cases which is worthy of celebration but it seems you are still frowning as in in your comments. Zambia has defeated the Corona Virus and everything will be coming back to normal. We really appreciate the leadership of the President.
Today marks 7 days of Corona-free-cases, we thank the almighty God and the leadership of our President, Edgar Lungu and his delegated leaders. This is a time to not be isolated in partisan groupings but to respect each other and continue preventive measures against the spread of covid-19.
If indeed the COVID 19 situation was as good as CliDoris Slit is saying, what has Lungu extended the national quarantine period by a further fort night. Anyway, One thing we all know is that Finance Minister Ng’andu and Chitalu of Health got infected in Namibia but upon return opted not to self quarantine but wilfully spread the novel coronavirus by going out in public without taking precautions. They must be charged with wilfully spreading coronavirus, bafi.kala