The Ministry of Health has said that it has noted reduced capacity in mortuaries to hold the bodies for those dying in hospitals and in the communities.
In a statement released to the media, Ministry Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Malama said the number of daily COVID-19 deaths is unprecedented as the Ministery has reported 407 deaths in just three weeks of the third wave.
“On a very sad note, our COVID-19 death remains high, as 47 new deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours,” he said.
“The cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded to date now stands at 1,691 of which 1,045 have been classified as COVID deaths and 646 are COVID-19 associated deaths,”.
Dr Malama added that a total of 2,148 discharges were made of which 113 are from the COVID-19 isolation facilities and 2,035 from home management.
“There are currently 18,490 active cases, of whom 17,467 are under community management and 1,023 are admitted to our COVID-19 isolation facilities,” he said.
He stated that of the admissions, 172 are newly admitted patients within the last 24 hours.
He further noted that among those currently under admission, 701 are on Oxygen therapy and 131 are in critical condition.
Dr Malama has since described the third wave of Covid-19 as devastating looking at the evolution of the pandemic in the past month.
He said the county has continued to see an unprecedented increase in COVID 19 cases, hospitalizations, and even deaths.
The Permanent Secretary said by this time last month, there were only 50 patients in the health facilities, adding that today there are over a thousand COVID-19 cases.
“The number of critical patients has gone up in the past month, from just four (4) critical patients recorded on 21st May to having 131 in critical condition,” he said.
“The saddest part of it all is we are still on an upward trend with the peak of this wave not yet in sight. Our oxygen demand, the critical drug in case management, has also gone up significantly, from having just 32 patients on oxygen countrywide a month ago to now having 701 patients on oxygen with the majority requiring high flow oxgygen,” Dr Malama explained.
He said as the number of COVID-19 cases increases in the country, the hospitals both public and private offering COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities are heavily burdened with patients, many of whom require intensive and critical care.
Dr Malama further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increasing the vaccine supply as this has proven to be an effective strategy in reducing the COVID-19 burden.
He also disclosed that in the last 24 hours, the country has recorded 1,598 new confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 6,369 tests conducted indicating 25% positivity.
“As Government, we have continued mobilizing extra bed space and oxygen supply. Once again we reiterate that this fight should be fought and won in our communities,” he said.
LUNGU LUNGU LUNGU
WHERE IS THE PRESIDENT ON THIS HE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING THE NATION
HE’ S NOT BUSY ORGANISING KK FUNERAL AS SUGGESTED BY THE TR000LL
SOMETHING SINISTER IS GOING ON HERE KNOWING HOW PF OPERATE
We told you to take action to control spread of COVID not that political posturing you did- banning rallies. You are a disappointment and disgrace really!
Luungu and his PF is planning to postpone elections. Mark my words.
This is a ploy by ecl and pf to postpone elections
This is government needs to be serious: vaccinate everyone or shut down the country until the various slows down, we have lost a lot of our loved ones.
I don’t understand why bars and other activities are still functional.
God help us.
Kaizer Zulu congratulated himself too soon.
Chaona munzako chapita, mumawa chili pa iwe. When western countries were battling this disease Zambia was fooling around. President going to Livingstone to call tourists to come and John Walking around the country spreading the disease with his entourage inspecting development projects. In other countries, the Heads of State have continued to hold WEEKLY briefings with doctors, scientists and statisticians. This is not a one public health professor’s job. Zambian medical doctors must learn to use Sociologists and Psychologists in combating pandemics. People must be engaged at their level and in their language.
This is truly an incompetent govt …they will now crank up the volume …that Nija boy was right PF that never cared about covid-19 will now push for postponement of elections, if at that lazy bum cared he would have called for early elections.
Eighteen months after the start of the pandemic, and FINALLY the totally incompetent PF government sees the light. Bit late, isn’t it? Typical PF government behaviour: Lying about everything, not delivering anything! August 12 can’t come soon enough!
The delta variant is affecting all countries including the so called rich countries which the upnd diasporans are inconveniencing by staying where they are not wanted. Covid is still around and will continue to spread until the whole world builds immunity and we are all vaccinated. This is simply commonsense but to upnd diasporans sense is not very common
Just as recently as 1 month ago , lungu was busy dancing to crowds ………
PF are the super spreaders of covid.
First they did not close the borders to travellers from India, then they had campaigns in full swing……….
This is the results.
Time to close borders and start being serous about covid
A serious government be would have worked to stock pile adquate oxygen, drugs vaccination for it’s people not flying around to inspect markets
Ba Malama, you should concentrate on preventing further spread like mandatory quarantine at points of entry, stop gatherings regardless of government leaders or opposition.
And before I forget, what is your advice on the planned funeral procession of KK to ten provinces of the country? This will be a litmus test on your seriousness to halt the spread.