By SIMON MUNTEMBA
GOVERNMENT has predicted that Zambia would experience a fourth wave of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic between November this year and January 2022 despite having recorded a significant drop in the recent weeks.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Malama however said Government was trying to do everything possible to avert it. Dr Malama said it was imperative that the public get vaccinated so that by that time they would have developed the much needed immunity to protect themselves from severe disease and death.
“As a nation our projection of a fourth wave in November/ December into early 2022 stands and it is imperative that members of the public consider being vaccinated now so that by that time they would have developed the much needed immunity to protect themselves from severe disease and death,” Dr Malama said. He said whereas vaccines may not prevent one from getting infected, they would surely be protected from dying from Covid-19.
He said the government remains vigilant and was closely monitoring the situation in East Africa where the third wave has started due to frequent travel between Zambia and the region. Meanwhile, Dr Malama in a statement said as the ministry reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the just ended epidemiological week, the country recorded a further drop in the overall positivity rate from six percent last week to five percent this week.
He commended health care workers who had remained steadfast and passionately continued to execute their work. Dr Malama also applauded all frontline staff from various sectors for their untiring efforts, saying Government and the Zambian people were indebted to them for their unwavering commitment to duty. In the last 24 hours, he said 212 new confirmed Covid-19 cases out of 5, 684 tests conducted were recorded.
