By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
THE overall covid-19 positivity for the week has dropped further to 2.9 per cent compared to 3.2 per cent in the previous week, indicating reduced community transmission of the virus.
Health Minister, Jonas Chanda, therefore said it was encouraging that the country had continued to receive tremendous support from the Global Fund and the World Bank to invest in among others the oxygen supplies and plants.
Dr Chanda said in the spirit of transparency and accountability, the country had also previously declared additional resources pledged towards the covid-19 response, including the $1.3million received under the World Bank, as well as the $373,000 currently in use, received under the COVAX Facility through the WHO, UNICEF and CIDRZ.
“We continue to take full advantage of these resources to strengthen our capacity and response activities across the country.
“Despite the global procurement challenges, our logistics teams have been working tirelessly to ensure commodity security in the country.
We encourage all staff to protect and maintain the investments entrusted in their care for the good of our Zambian people,” he said.
Dr Chanda said the response was sustained in the face of the continued COVID -19 threat with an imminent “third wave” predicted for the Southern Africa region, he encourage data use for decision making.
The country has however not recorded any covid-19 related deaths for a consecutive day in the last 24 hours.
In the last 24 hours, 111 new cases were detected out of 4,949 tests conducted bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date to 90,029.
The cumulative number of civid – 19 related deaths recorded to date still stands at 1,226.
A total of 1,205 discharges were recorded from both the COVID – 19 isolation facilities and home management, bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 88,018.
There are currently 785 active cases, of whom 726 admitted to civid -19 isolation facilities.
Among those admitted, 42 are on oxygen therapy and eight are in critical condition.
