Results of the recently held prevalence surveys on Covid-19 have indicated that most Zambians remain susceptible to infections. Zambia National Public Health Institute Director Victor Mukonka says if the country relaxes in adhering to public health measures, 50 percent of the population risks getting infected.
Professor Mukonka says the surveys which were conducted in 6 districts between 2nd and 31st July 2020 on selected populations indicated that 10 percent of the population was infected. He explains that more men are getting infected and the elderly.
Prof. Mukonka says several other studies on Covid-19 are at the implementation stage and that one is on the characteristics of the Corona Virus. He says this is aimed at establishing whether the virus is the same as what broke out in other countries or it has mutated.
And the United States Government has commended the country for undertaking the Covid-19 prevalence surveys as they are the first in Africa. US Embassy Charge D’Affaires David Young said understanding the spread of Covid-19 in the country is important in formulating the right strategies to contain the pandemic.
Zambia has recorded 116 cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours out of 997 tests conducted. Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya says two deaths were also recorded involving One Brought In dead recorded in Kabwe and a health facility death involving a 77-year-old male with underlying conditions who were admitted to Levy Mwanawasa isolation center.
Meanwhile, the Government will next week open a Covid-19 isolation centre at Kafue General Hospital. Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya disclosed this when he toured Kafue General hospital in Kafue today.
Dr. Chilufya said the isolation centre once open will reduce Covid-19 referral cases to the University Teaching Hospital -UTH- and Levy Mwanawasa isolation centre. He further disclosed that Kafue district is the first to record a reduction in Covid-19 cases in the country.
Speaking to journalists after the tour, Dr. Chilufya said prevention and following health guidelines is the only way out to handle the Pandemic. He said the government under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu is determined to see to it that the spread of Covid-19 is stopped hence the opening of the isolation center.
Kafue district health director Enock Syabbalo informed the minister that the district has continued to record few Covid-19 cases after the partial lockdown of the town.
And Kafue general hospital medical superintendent Abby Makukula thanked the minister for the support in creating an isolation centre in the district. Dr Makukula said the district has intensified its Covid-19 awareness message
50% really way to get people panicking
THIS MUST BE A FAKE PROFESSOR WHO DOE’SNT KNOW HOW BIG 50% IS. ALL VULTURES THAT ARE TARGETING COVID19 MONIES HAVE RESORTED TO SCARE AND ALARMIST TACTICTS. CAN YOU GUYS BE REALISTIC FOR ONCE? WE AGREE THAT A LOT OF INFECTIONS WOULD OCCUR IF MEASURES WERE RELAXED, BUT PLEASE DON’T LIE WITH THE FIGURES. WHAT STATISTICAL TOOLS HAVE YOU USED AND REPRESENTATIVE ARE THEY OF ALL ZAMBIA’S TEN PROVINCES?
Stop sounding warnings with unverified statistics. For months now, the WHO and other health workers with hidden political agendas have been playing scaremongering games with phantom figures at the expense of people’s individual freedom and rights. The phase of alarmism must come to an end. The phase of pragmatism must set in.
I nearly said covid is a hoax but until realised what has been happening to Kambwili kikikikiki!!!!!!
Heard someone plans to reopen the covid incubation center, The Parliament?
This is scary. The good doctor is asking for police help here.
Let’s take personal responsibility. A government cannot ensure that you don’t get a virus.
To those of you who dont understand what the Covid-19 does to your body, some people who get it will maybe just be at the hospital for 1-2 weeks, but they gonna be sick for 3-6 month, sleeping 16 hours per day, some people need to learn how to talk again or to walk again, Covid-19 can hit you very very hard.
Keep your distance stay home if you just feel a little little sick. Keep safe
Whether you like or or not, you WILL get infected. But your body will fight it.
You will get reinfected, but this will be like a booster shot of a natural vaccine. And you will fight it off again.
Protect the elderly, the immunocompromised and those with chronic diseases. Let the rest be free.
These guys are benefiting from covid. It’s useless to fight the pandemic in the manner we are doing. Stay home and die of hunger. Stop education and put Zambia on her knees forever.
Surely 100% of the population is at risk. Serious! Show me the person who is NOT at risk of infection or has no need of precaution! Even the young can spread it to others at home.
As for “scaremongering” and “unverified statistics”, just grow up! Of course it’s scary (Eish!) but do you really think the country would be better with no warnings and the Minister said something like “aww, don’t worry little boy, you have no need to fear – it will be alright, behave any old way and soon it will be better. Now have a lolly and go play.” Please, be serious!
A little bit of “panic” so people understand the need to protect themselves and the ones they love without “distancing sticks” or threats is surely OK. Grow up and do the right thing! Simple.
It’s actually boring getting this news from a health worker.
Abo ba Nine Chale niba ndani.. baoneka balibe skopo. His comments are off!! At least he has money to afford bundles. I think he should buy bread for children.
@Nine Chale, I take it you have not lost a close relative or friend to this virus in COVID-19. Stop misleading people because we know better here in the USA that have been affected through loss of family, friends and neighbours. Just like HIV/AIDS, this virus is no hoax because it’s for real. Stop misguiding people.
This government could be saying the truth on covid. But with a badly dented reputation, no zambian and I mean exactly that, no zambian ever takes them seriously. I think most zambians will take them seriously once they restore democratic rights of citizens, things like sharing the public media with opposition, things like the opposition assembling the way the ruling party is assembling
Coronavirus knows no boundaries, guard your life n other’s lives jealously.
These so called professors or self declared professors are a bigger virus then the covid virus itself. Few months back some dogs were barking that if we don’t lockdown then will have covid across the country.
Our hospitals will be packed, health system will breakdown. Country will collapse and so on.
6 months down the line, we have had only 100 covid deaths and our health system is as strong as it was. None of our hospitals were ever overwhelmed.
All these so called professors are paid by WHO to spread such nonsense. Their opinions are of no relevance, its better they keep their opinions to themselves.
Those countries where they did those lockdowns and so forth are the one’s with the highest covid rates. Check Pakistan – a country with 4 times more population then South…
What is corona? Educate me?
I thought we were told we should embrace the “New Normal” where life must go on in spite of COVID? What is our professor saying which contradicts the Presidential directive? Whom should we follow now between the Professor and the President? This is confusion!
Such sensitive information must be filtered through the Presidency to avoid sending mixed messages to the public! Many businesses are still closed since March. It’s now 7 months without livelihoods for many. Why not open up the Economy fully to operate under the new normal? If people die, let them die from Covid but not hunger and depression! After all, the fatality rate for this disease is very low at less than 5%!
A lot of misinformation is being written here by the respondents. Many of them have no understanding