By PETER SICHALI
GOVERNMENT is worried with continued reports of use of Ivermectin as an alleged cure for coronavirus, Minister of Health Jonas Chanda has said.
Dr Chanda said Zambia Medicines and Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has since instituted investigations into recent events in Eastern Province.
He also said no unlicensed pharmaceutical products will be allowed so as to protect the health of Zambians.
And Dr Chanda said ministry of Health has observed with concern that many Zambians in Lusaka and other towns continue to disregard the use of facemasks in public.
“This laxity is very worrying and will cost us gains we have made in the response,” Dr Chanda said.
Dr Chanda said it was sad that the laxity was also seen in health facilities which by nature are infectious spaces.
Dr Chanda said the ministry of Health with guidance from President Edgar Lungu was scheduled to engage the Chinese embassy regarding the provision of support for oxygen demand to the new specialised hospital in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, the Minister has announced that the country has recorded 11 covid 19 deaths.
Dr Chanda said the country has recorded 902 new covid-19 cases out of 5,231 tests in the last 24 hours.
He said 367 patients have been discharged from isolation facilities and home management, bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 69,803 representing 91 per cent.
Dr Chanda said there were currently 5,630 active cases of which 95 per cent are under community management whereas 5 per cent are under covid isolation facilities of which 68 per cent are under oxygen therapy and are in critical condition.
