The last 24hours has seen our country record the highest number of COVID 19 in patients, new admissions, and deaths ever.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Malama has said in a statement that the situation is an indication that COVID 19 transmissions are still taking place at the household, community, and institutional levels countrywide mainly due to the general laxity in adhering to the Public health measures with congregate settings and super spreader activities still fueling the situation.
“We are aware that some of those testing positive may have contracted the infection days to a few weeks ago but the general observation of behaviors at funerals, markets, public transport, and in communities leaves much to be desired,” he said.
In the last 24 hours, 2,060 new confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 8,278 tests conducted were recorded representing a 25% positivity rate.
“Sadly, in the last 24 hours, we recorded a record high in mortality, having recorded Forty-Nine (49) new deaths.” Dr Malama said.
This has brought the cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded to date to 1,644 (classified as 1,004 COVID deaths and 640 COVID-19 associated deaths.
“The disease we seeing is very severe implying that most of our patients require high flow oxygen. We call upon various stakeholders to join hands with us in ramping up our oxygen availability.” He said.
“Losing lives at the rate we are reporting from a preventable disease is disheartening to us all particularly that Public health and social measures when adhered can have an immediate impact on the COVID 19 country situation.” Dr. Malama said.
He said that currently there are 19,087 active cases, of whom 18,104 (95%) are under community management and 983 (5%) are admitted to COVID-19 isolation facilities and that among those currently under admission, 665 (68%) are on Oxygen therapy and 145 (15%) are in critical condition.
Dr. Malama has since reiterated the need for Zambians to strictly adhere to COVID-19 prevention guidelines and has called for heightened community interventions to stem further the spread of the virus.
“We note that today, all the voices which were doubting COVID 19 have become silent as we can now put faces to those infected, affected, and indeed those who have died. Today we see funerals in our high population density areas which were previously spared. Today we see our mortuaries struggling with space in Lusaka due to the increase in the number of deaths.” he said.
Stay safe everyone and do not be swayed by the upnd antics. Stay home and save lives
Kaizar Zulu ba PF ngatwalusa ukaponoka coz you have messed up a great deal.Ule tola nobwapona.
Our government is not serious.
They have had more than one year to ramp us oxygen supplies, and now they say they are in short supply.
Poor planning. Poor leadership.
Vote wisely.
This is mainly political campaigns Covid plus a few other infections.
Instead of planning and accommodating money towards purchasing medical equipment/ medicine/ vaccines, the thief was busy buying bicycles and distributing cash as if this will alleviate the depleted hospitals and shortage of medicine.
The rich can afford private hospitals but how about the millions who can’t afford, lungu will just leave them to die whilst he enjoys his Jameson
Mzambia wa Zamani – This is now serious trust me I am a member of various WhatsApp Groups ie School, College and Brainstorming etc in Zambia and a lot of my colleagues are dying especially those with underlying issues around the country. Just ask yourself where the Lazy Lungu’s Press Assistant is…KK himself who was transferred to Main Soko which a covid-19 centre….the problem will have is that this govt is very incompetent, leaderless and cavalier they wanted to use covid-19 as weapon to deter opposition going out but its backfired. If they were serious that should have started procuring vaccines way back when Chilufya was in that office but they were merely making everyday announcements like Malama here.
QUESTION IS WHO IS RUNNING THIS COUNTRY ?? THE PRESIDENT SEEMS BE A LAME DUCK PRESIDENT
HAS HE BEEN REIGNED IN BY THE OPPOSING FACTION ???
AND WHAT WAS THE PRESIDENTIAL JET DOING IN EGYPT ??
MOVING WHAT OR COLLECTING WHAT ???
DONT THE TAX PAYERS DESERVE AN ANSWER
THE GOVERNMENT CANT HIDE THIS FOREVER
It seems the President has his own limitless budget for empowerment programs but there is zero money to procure vaccines!!
abbort mumbwe- Dont feed the UK based troll/impostor
Useless prayers wont help Zambians, Protect yourself and others from COVID-19
For Buses, community markets and bars , it has been business as usual since January 2021.
Hardly any masking or social distancing was observed. Just go on social media and the video evidence is there.
This the consequence of mismanagement of the covid-19 situation in Zambia.
The PF have been campaigning since 2020 and are solely responsible for the mixed-messaging
Habbort hamumbwe who are you f00Iing you upnd cadre Haha. Just continue spreading lies with your fellow liars like that c0ckr0ach tarino
TARINO A C0CkR0ACH KIKIKIKIKI
There is only one on here Tr00ll And thats you
This Tarino has never used insulting language How he keeps his cool
with a*rs* holes on here i will never know
This is sad. Vulnerable populations should be protected. As political cadres turn to door to door campaign, the elderly and those already down with chronic illnesses should be spared from close contact engagement. Those of you thinking COVID-19 is being used for political gain may have a point BUT the disease is real. Those defying prevention measures while campaigning risk not being around to witness their election victory or loss.
BLAME THE PRESIDENT FOR NOT ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE TO MASK UP AND BE CAREFUL
HE NEEDS TO SUPPORT THE MINISTER OF HEALTH YET ZERO IS COMING FROM HIM
THE BUCK STOPS WITH HIM !!!!
New rules and guidelines were introduced last week but they are not being followed. People are still in public places without masks and without social distancing especially marketeers and vendors. Buses and taxis are still being cramped to capacity without masks or sanitizers. As long as that happens there will be no change.
The PS has failed. He must be fired. Chilufya tried.
What are you doing at personal level to protect yourself and others from COVID? Are you masking up correctly? received your first vaccine jab? maintaining social distance? If your answers are yes; then you have a point in raising criticism against the PS. If not then it is not the PS but you and me that are failing!
Kaizar Zulu used to boast about the low number of cases in Zambia and claimed that it was all due to Lungu’s ‘able leadership.’ Where are we now that there is no minister of Health and Lungu is directly in charge?
Take a leaf from Israel. There is no other answer to this pandemic except mass vaccination. Unfortunately, Lungu has not even shown leadership on that score. People who are dying are well educated and knowledgeable and know what masking, sanitising and social distancing is. Why are they still being infected?
If were truthful in our reporting countries would be rushing to our aid las for India. KK, Mambilima, mateyo all died of Covid but we are not mentioning it.
Bring back Dr Chitalu Chilufya to bring down
Corvid cases.May be Dr Malana cannot handle corvid properly.