Zambia has in the last 24 hours recorded 5,255 cases of COVID-19, the highest ever number of new daily infections since the outbreak of the Omicron variant in the country early this month.
And 10 people have in the last 24 hours succumbed to the virus , nine of whom were not vaccinated.
Speaking during the routine COVID updates yesterday, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said government is concerned with the rapidly worsening COVID situation in the country.
Ms Masebo says transmission is moving swiftly especially in congregate places including work places saying this calls for urgent stringent measures to avert a more severe situation.
She says authoutities through her ministry will beginning today, conduct a 48 hours massive fumigation exercise in all government institutions and has urged the private sector to follow suit.
And Ms. Masebo has discouraged members of the public against patronizing congregate activities during New Year celebrations.
Below is the full ministerial statement
Members of the press, countrymen and women,
Government is deeply concerned about the rapidly worsening COVID-19 situation in the country.
In the last 24 hours, 5,255 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were detected from 16,774 tests conducted, representing a positivity of 31% nationally. This this is the highest number of daily cases ever recorded in Zambia.
We currently have 316 patients admitted to COVID-19 isolation facilities across the country, among whom 119 patients are on oxygen. Unfortunately, we experienced 10 deaths. It is important to note that all the 9 of the 10 deaths were of individuals who were not vaccinated and 86% of the admitted patients are all unvaccinated.
Yesterday, we recorded a total of 25,470 vaccinations, bringing our cumulative number of people who have received dose 1 to 497,818 and those fully immunised to 1,171,582.
We have observed that transmission is spreading rapidly especially among people in congregate settings including the workplace.
This situation calls for urgent and decisive action on our part as Government and the country as a whole, because we cannot wait and watch the situation become even worse.
Therefore, Government, through the Ministry of Health together with other Line Ministries and all stakeholders will implement the following measures:
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- Mobilize to move in all government buildings to immediately start a nation-wide fumigation exercise over the next 48 hours beginning this afternoon.
- Gatherings are strongly discouraged, especially during the end of year festivities.
- Â Members of the public who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are encouraged to be vaccinated from various vaccination centers countrywide.
- Members of the public who are vaccinated with the primary series of vaccines and are willing and eligible for booster vaccines should also get booster vaccines.
- Children aged 12-18 years should also be taken to vaccination centers offering vaccines for children.
- The public should continue to use facemasks, sanitize and physical distance as much as possible.
- Members of the public should avoid crowded places and also those who are well should limit visiting hospitals as they are infectious areas.
- The private sector is encouraged to follow suit and ensure in-door fumigation in their premises.
These measures are an effort to mitigate against fast increasing transmission of this fourth wave. The government anticipates minimal disruption on work and business through this period and we call upon the public to cooperate and support this effort.
Hon. Sylvia T. Masebo, MP
MINISTER OF HEALTH
ALL COVID GUIDE LINES ARE BEING IGNORED
THANKS TO THE DISINTEREST OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO SUFFER NOW
On the contrary Upnd played a bigger part in disinformation. #1 please just go to the archives for proof.
On the contrary Upnd played a bigger part in disinformation. #1 please just go to the archives for proof. Remember Lusambo had to become physical in order to enforce the lockdown?
Morning
For some reason Minister of Health is not being forceful in her approach in this matter.
This is a matter of life and death she shouldnt come out with kids gloves at all.
Clearly compliance is lax address that firmly and clearly.
State house Covid specialist should add voice to crisis.
Just look at how public is conducting itself in public places ,no face masks in buses ,RTSA AND POLICE should curb and bring inline defiant citizens.
Madam Health Minister PUNCH HARD this is no kids play.
Unfortunately Minister of Health is not PUNCHING HARD ON THIS PANDEMIC.
INVOKE provisions of SI ,dont shy away from cracking whip.
DONT be COSMETIC in your approach.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
GO OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND EXERCISE FULL PROVISIONS OF THE LAW.
tikki, whatever you’re smoking, I want some …lol
Even churches are hiding the information in case they lose their flock.
Black people have become suspicious of anything that is from the west and the worst is where religion and superstition are added into the mix. What they should say is that the vaccine will increase fertility and prowess and there will not be enough vaccine to go around!
WHAT ARCHIVES ??
THIS IS NOT A FACTUAL SITE !!
NOSE TO THE GROUND IS MORE RELIABLE
YOU ARE PREACHING TOO MUCH VACCINATION MADAM; YOU WONT FIGHT THE PANDEMIC ALONE; MASKING, SANITIZING IS THE WAY FORWARD THAN VACCINATION ALONE. MALTI SECTORIAL APPROACH OF PF IS IMPORTANT TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC. BACKETS OF WATER IN ALL WORK PLACES, PRIVATE AND PUBLICK. SO RELOOK YOUR APPROACH..
This was not the case under pf. You have failed
The problem with our politicians is that they watch too much CNN and BBC propaganda…the scientists in RSA stated earlier that this new variant was not as severe as the Delta but were ignored two months down the line they are saying the same thing after putting countries on the red lists.
It’s just severe flu. I had it two days ago. Stop scaring people
Phiri- the problem here is MOH got alot of these vaccines from Pfizer so the only way to use them is scaremongering even when we as Africans are not so much impacted healthwise by covid-19.
Simply put, people are just tired of this disease with different names… people were looking to the end … but here it comes with a different name..Delta, Omicron and what next. Madam you have a big job on your hands. I don’t envy you.
Minister is still playing politics of appeasement as if you are still looking for votes. This time you have to force matters and make sure people follow the guidelines even if it makes you unpopular.
Your minister and many politicians know the truth but have to toe the line.
THE SO CALLED VACCINES DON’T STOP NOR PREVENT CIVID. EVEN THE CDC WEBSITE TELLS YOU THAT. YOU CAN’T SAY THAT THEY DIDN’T TELL YOU. ALSO REMEMBER THAT IF YOU ARE DISABLED, DIE OR COMLICATE NO ONE WILL COMPENSATE YOU NOR YOUR FAMILY. DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT BUT CHECK THAT FOR YOURSELVES.
GIBRALTAR IS 100% VACCINATED BUT HAS ALMOST THE SAME COVID CASES. ISRAEL, UK AND EUROPE HAS THE SAME.
Infact a lot of Nursing Homes in UK where these jabs were forced over the elderly, the picture is SAD. Many Care Homes now are struggling with COVID CASES yet tge opposite was supposed to be the case. Many homes only allowed vaccinated care workers and visitors in. In addition there is now a high degree of sickness…
Madam minister, I’m 62 yrs old man. I went to Bauleni clinic today to try to get my vxn. I lost the slip issued at my first jab in april. The vxn nurse refused and suggested I get a police report before getting my second jab. I asked her if she couldn’t just verify my info using my ID since my details were captured during my first jab at UTH. Long story short, she flatly refused. I called the 909 helpline no. I was advised by sone young wonen T***nga to go back to UTH. I suggested her advice was counter intuitive given that we are inna pandemic and need to minimize exposure to covid pathogens, that I’d need to jump on 3 buses, put myself and potentially other passengers at risk each way. She said this was my only option. Granted it was my foolishness to lose the vxn card. In any case,…
Kozo, the vaccines can prevent covid infection in most people. In some, there does iccur breakthrough infections. Even in these people, the vaccine does prevent serious illness, hospitalisation and death especially among the elderly. Those people in nursing homes are old and WILL have other health challenges. Thats why vaccinations for them and those in contact with them is so important to minimize the risk of the elderly in these homes having to deal with another health challenge such as Cov-19. Stop spreading misinformation. If you dont understand an issue, best keep quiet.
Steve
Please don’t conclude and state that it is misinformation. The 99.98% SURVIVAL RATE includes the elderly. PLEASE I still stand by what I wrote. Do your homework. Follow YELLOW CARD VACCINE REPORTING SYSTEM FOR UK, DO THE SAME FOR VAERS – U.S then revisit your statement. EVEN these high deaths, disabilities and complications only account for 1 to 10%. I am requesting you NOT TO BE THE ULTIMATE ARBITER AND LEAVING NO ROOM FOR OTHER VOICES. I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. I KNOW WHAT I SAID MAY NOT BE ACCEPTABLE NOR ALLOWED IN SOME QUARTERS BUT I ALSO ASKED PEOPLE TO CHECK IT OUT. AT LEAST PROVE ME WRONG BY FOLLOWING THE VACCINATED INCLUDING THE HEALTH VIBRANT ONES. I HOPE YOU SAW THAT. DO YOU TELL ME THE MYOCARDITIS, BLOOD CLOTS, BELL’S PULSE ETC ONLY OCCUR IN THE ELDERLY? DO…
Steve
I am surprised that you are NOT aware that these jabs are NOT vaccines and also that they don’t prevent transmission. Just know that American – Vaers and British Yellow Card figures have DEATH, DISABILITIES AND COMPLICATIONS LIKE myocarditis, Bell’s Palsy, strokes and blood clots just to mention a few. These are NOT my opinions nor figures. Check then out from the sources I mentioned.
Are you aware that COVID jabs don’t meet the CDC criteria for a vaccines? PLEASE encourage the people to do their researches in order to make informed decisions. I BEG YOU. I STILL STAND BY EVERY WORD I WROTE AND STILL APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT EVEN THOUGH I MAY NOT AGREE WITH SOME THE THINGS YOU SAID. I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. IT IS NOT FANTASY BUT LIFE AND DEATH.
Chipantepante….
As long as we have total !d!ots like Kozo above, this country ain’t going nowhere