By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE Increasing cases of Covid-19, particularly in Lusaka, require new strategies and sustained efforts from all stake holders to prevent the spread of the virus, Vice President Mrs Inonge Wina has said.
Speaking after Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya announced a 36th case of the Covid-19 pandemic in Zambia during a council of ministers meeting held online, with ministers seated in the comfort of their offices, Mrs. Wina said there is need to tighten measures to stop the spread of the virus.
Mrs. Wina urged the Committee of permanent secretaries through DMMU to come up with Key recommendations to address the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Time has come for us to review the measures that were put in place recently to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from internal and external forces.
“We are fighting an enemy we can not see and do not know therefore there is need to tighten measures to stop the spread of the virus,” Mrs. Wina said.
She said government has approved a contingent plan and additional measures to prevent the Covid-19 virus from spreading from internal and external forces.
Meanwhile Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has announced that there are high profile Covid-19 cases involving government officials.
Dr. Chilufya said some permanent secretaries and high ranking officials have been quarantined because they were in close contact with some people who are infected.
He said the latest case of the Covid-19 infected person is a 65 year old male who had also travelled to Pakistan, bringing the total number of infected people from Pakistan to 25.
Dr Children said nine cases of the 36 are victims who came into close contact with the travelers from Pakistan.
Dr. Chilufya said one victim from the human to human transmission is a driver who lives in Jack Compound while the other one is a maid from Chaisa compound.
He said there is need to desperately interrupt the transmission circle to prevent the spread of the virus especially in densely populated compounds in Lusaka.
“Zambia today, we can say that we don’t just have imported cases, we have cases from person to person transmission and that should be alarming and should change out course of direction,” Dr. Chilufya said.
He disclosed that the ministry of health is carrying out more tests on 65 suspects and the results will be disclosed to the public during today’s update of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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