MINISTER of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya has assured that Zambia is on the right track in controlling the COVID-19 outbreak.
The minister said this during the daily COVID-19 briefing at his office in Lusaka.
He announced that Zambia had recorded one death from COVID-19 and three more new cases in the last 24 hours.
He explained that people who tested positive of the Coronavirus had been infected by people who had come in from countries he described as “high risk countries.”
“I am saddened to report that we have lost one of our COVID-19 patient. The said patient had an underline chronic disorder and the history of traveling to South Africa and contact with people that traveled to COVID-19 high risk countries.”
Dr Chilufya said all the contacts of person who had died have been followed up and have tested negative of COVID-19.
“The demised patient was in our facility for six days during which he received advanced treatment and support [but] unfortunately it lea to death in the early hours of this morning about 02:00 AM. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Dr Chilufya said two of the new cases were evident that Zambia had now started recording person to person transmission of COVID-19.
“In the last 24 hours, we carried out 160 tests and out of that tested, we have confirmed three new cases of COVID-19,” he said.
However, the minister assured that Zambia was on the right track in stopping the Coronavirus and called on citizens to follow the guidelines.
“We are on the right track in controlling the COVID-19 outbreak.”
He urged people not to leave or enter Lusaka because the capital city was now the epicenter of the Coronavirus.
Zambia now has recorded 39 cases
Dr. Chilufya also urged market managers to ensure that their trading places meet certain health standards
