Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr Kennedy Malama said COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities, including the private hospitals, are filling up at a fast rate, with 88 new admissions recorded in the last 24hrs.
In a statement released to the media, Dr. Malama has implored members of the public to avoid hosting super-spreading events and that the filling up of the said facilities is unprecedented, before adding that the situation in COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities, although in line with earlier projections remains a cause for concern.
The Permanent Secretary said that Zambia stands a real risk of overwhelming the Health Care system, particularly case management if the situation of preventing and mitigating infections in the community is not collectively and expeditiously addressed.
Dr Malama reiterated the need to stop the spread of COVID-19 by closing the taps of community transmission.
“Currently, only Northern and Muchinga provinces report positivity rates less than 5%, a clear indication that the rates of community transmission have drastically increased countrywide, compared to just three short weeks ago when we had a nationwide positivity of between 1-5%,” Dr Malama said.
“We, therefore, urge the public to be weary of hosting super spreader events such as weddings, kitchen parties, amatebeto, Workshops, meetings, and other large gatherings which are all springboards of infection.”
Dr. Malama also indicated that the directives issued during the last address to the nation on curbing COVID 19 by the Head of State remain in full effect.
Dr. Malama however implored all relevant line Ministries and stakeholders to enforce them accordingly.
He also urged local authorities and leaders in congregate settings “to step up the efforts and ensure implementation of interventions at the community level as well as enforce adherence to the public health guidelines including the provision of accessible handwashing facilities particularly in markets, bus stations and trading places, the correct and consistent wearing of facemasks and regular cleaning and disinfection of markets, bus stops and other public spaces.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Malama said the Africa Union / Africa CDC Trusted Travel platform rollout plan has reached an advanced stage, with a list of multidisciplinary and multisectoral focal point persons identified and key staff scheduled to be trained in the coming five days.
He said the government will issue a travel advisory in this regard soon to ensure that travelers are kept abreast of the developments.
The Permanent Secretary also said the government scheduled to launch the platform on 17th June, this year adding that the platform will make convenient travel arrangements for those incoming and exiting the country.
“Yesterday, the Africa Union / Africa CDC launched the partnership with the MasterCard foundation worth $1.3 billion, which is expected to increase Africa’s access to vaccines. It will cover Resource Mobilization, procurement, Vaccine Research, and Development,” Dr. Malama said.
And the country recorded 1,767 new confirmed cases out of 14,445 tests conducted, representing a 12% positivity rate.
The country has also lost three lives to the pandemic while 197 have been discharged.
And Dr. Malama has called on members of the public to continue adhering to health regulations aimed at mitigating the spread of the pandemic.
Let us take this third wave seriously. Anyone, especially those in upnd, found breaking the rules will be dealt with by ZP. Enough is enough. I have sent a stern letter to ZP asking them to ensure that they step up charges for breaking covid rules.
We were told that PF govt controlled the covid 19 spread. This is even in the campaign adverts. What has happened now? Was it a fluke? Have the wheels come off the chigiligili?
And no surprise this wave is brought about by the political campaigns .
“We, therefore, urge the public to be weary of hosting super spreader events such as weddings, kitchen parties, amatebeto, Workshops, meetings, and other large gatherings which are all springboards of infection.” Generally people have adhered to the Ministry of Health directives regarding the mentioned spreaders. Currently, the spreaders include rallies, road show campaigns, door to door campaigns and fighting among opposing parties. During the campaigns, party leaders should consistently inform their members to adhere to guidelines.
What’s worrying is that many people are still relaxed, they just don’t care. Politicians are the worst culprits, even those that don’t have the slightest of winning any election in the life of this generation are still arguing that they need to mingle freely with usually hired mobs in their mock show of popularity. We lost some close friends and trelatives in the first and second waves. The onus is on each one of us to guard our lives otherwise many of us might end up statistics. PLEASE FOLLOW THE HEALTH GUIDELINES
THE BLAME FOR THIS SAD OUT OF CONTROL COVID FALLS SQUARELY ON PF
AND THE LAX MANNER THEY HAVE APPROACHED THIS SINCE THE BEGINNING
VERY SAD INDEED ………….
EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR MASKS IMMEDIATELY
Why no comments on the absence of vaccine doses? Maybe because the horrible PF government doesn’t want to be reminded of them failing miserably on fighting the Covid-19 from the very beginning? And mostly because Edgar China Lungu used the funds destined for vaccines was given out to criminal PF cadres and as “empowerment”….? Shame on you Lungu. And don’t bother about that stup!d troll from the UK -pretty sure his grey matter has been taken over by the virus!
Postpone the election until we are out of the woods. Third wave is deadly. Uwamatwi alomfwa. We cannot afford to have an Indian situ just because of politics. We can have elections after the pandemic. Uwafitala, let covid-19 imwikate so that akeshibe what vivid is all about.
WE HAVE BERCOME BEGGARS AND WAITING FOR FREE VACCINES FROM WHOM EVER AND WHICH EVER
YET MILLIONS AND MILLIONS ON ENPOWERMENT ( VOTE BUYING ETC )
AND STILL THE PRESIDENT% DOESNT COME FORWARD BECAUSE ITS NOT HIS JOB OR DOESNT CARE OR DOESNT KNOW WHATS GOING ON
REALLY SHAMEFUL WHEN LIVES DONT MATTER AND CANVASSING FOR VOTES DOES
Instead of using 200 police officers following HH wherever he goes why don’t you use the same officers to enforce the wearing of masks in public places as well as to ensure all covid adherence rules are complied with.
The graph is useless for this posting. We cannot see the numbers on the left side to make sense of the subject. Editors need to check, understand and know beforfe posting. Do not depend on ignorant staff.
Why blame the PF they warned you the third wave was here you thought it was a campaign gimmick…you are in court trying to force the ECZ to call off the guideline because according to that kadansa lawyer you keep hiring they have no such power…the same lawyer who defended GBM and hh…today he challenges the same conditions under which GBM/hh filed their papers in 2016….now he sees a wrong….fwaka too much
I have a video here, but I can not post it on this platform. It is how China is combating covid 19. They don’t go to hospitals, covid has no cure. Instead They drink a lot of hot antiviral traditional mixtures, 8 times. They steaming with eucalyptus etc even to 8 times a day also. The say a person can get better within 5 day. But what about we Africans have abandoned our traditional ways we think every illness can be healed by chemical drugs. We will be finished if you listen to the west and their WHO.
Let me add to my above comment: Corona viruses is killed by heat.