4 new Covid-19 cases recorded
By AARON CHIYANZO
FOUR new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in the last 24 hours in Zambia from the 378 tests which were conducted in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces.
Health minister, Chitalu Chilufya said 3 cases were picked from tests conducted in Lusaka while one was from those done on the Copperbelt.
Dr Chilufya said during the Covid-19 update yesterday that one of the Lusaka patients had gone to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) with a dental abscess and was found with the Corona virus after tests.
He said the other Lusaka patient was from Chilenje while health authorities were still following up on the Copperbelt patient to ascertain where he contracted the virus from but that he was admitted to Masaiti Isolation Centre.
Dr Chilufya said all the 43 patients who were in isolation were stable, including the one who had severe malaria.
He said the cumulative number of cases recorded in Zambia had now reached 88 with 3 deaths, 42 recoveries and 43 active cases.
Dr Chilufya said mass screening and targeted testing would continue in selected areas of Lusaka and the Copperbelt to fish out Covid-19 cases that might still be roaming around.
And Dr Chilufya said Government would continue ensuring that frontline health workers in Covid-19 fight were provided with all necessary safety equipment.
The minister was reacting to reported concerns from doctors on Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and incentives for working under covid-19 conditions.
He said Government would also ensure that the public was protected and provided with correct information at all times.
Dr Chilufya said the public or Government would not be arm-twisted as the Covid-19 fight goes on but would continue to engage with representatives of interest groups such as the Medical Association of Zambia.