By OLIVER SAMBOKO
THE country has recorded a three percent reduction in COVID 19 positivity rate despite a 21 percent increase in the number of tests conducted countrywide in the past one week.
Updating the nation on the covid19 situation, Health Minister Dr Jonas Chanda revealed that the positivity rate has dropped from eight percent the previous week to five percent.
“In the past epidemiological week, we recorded a 21% increase in the number of tests conducted countrywide, and a further reduction in our positivity rate from 8% the previous week to 5 percent,” he said.
He said the country has in the last 24 hours recorded 176 new covid cases out of 4,764 tests conducted countrywide, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date to 86,449.
One new death has also been recorded bringing the cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths to 1,179.
Dr Chanda further said a combined 148 discharges were recorded from both the COVID-19 isolation facilities and home management, bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 83,258.
He said currently the country has 2,012 active cases, of whom 1,886 are under community management while 126 are admitted to COVID-19 isolation facilities.
He said Zambia’s Covid-19 National Response Strategy, led by President Edgar Lungu, has led to great progress in reducing the number of Coronavirus transmission, case admissions and mortality rates.
Dr Chanda said in order to maintain the gains made so far, citizens should continue to adhere to public health guidelines at individual, household and community levels.
He said Government through his ministry will continue strengthening, screening and testing capacity, aimed at breaking the chains of Coronavirus transmission and halt further spread of the virus.
Dr Chanda said the reduction in positivity must be received with caution as some provinces are consistently reporting positivity rates above the national average.
He said although scientific evidence suggests that asymptomatic cases transmit the virus to significantly fewer people than those who are symptomatic, the infections tend to largely go undetected and therefore still pose a significant health risk to the community.
Dr Chanda also commended the Zambia Immunization Technical Advisory Group for their input and guidance regarding the planned Covid-19 Vaccine Acquisition and Deployment programme.
He said the information provided by the team of experts has been crucial for further decision making by Cabinet, as the country plan to integrate the vaccination pillar as a permanent feature response strategy once Cabinet approval is received.
