By KETRA KALUNGA
THE percentage of Covid-19 patients requiring oxygen support and critical care has continued to rise, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama has said.
Meanwhile, 70 people have died of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with 2, 781 new cases recorded out of the 12, 335 tests conducted.
On a positive note, admissions to hospitals in Lusaka has reduced and Government would continue monitoring the situation closely.
Dr Malama emphasised the need to ramp up community preventive interventions driven by community leaders.
He said this was aimed at sustaining the increased recovery rate which would be replicated to the rest of the county.
Dr Malama said the Government and its partners would improve oxygen availability with about 2,000 oxygen cylinders expected in the country.
“And today (yesterday) we expect 2,000 oxygen cylinders to be delivered which will be distributed countrywide,” he said.
He however said Government was concerned with the high positivity rate and deaths in Eastern province.
Dr Malama said the ministry has dispatched a team to Eastern province to go and provide technical support in case management.
He appealed to the public to stay safe and avoid super spreader events during the long holiday thatcould lead to more deaths in our country.
Dr Malama said Government was confident that it would turn the tide in the coming weeks.
