Covid-19 war still on

THE numbers may be dropping but now is not the time to relax in the fight against the spread of Covid-19.As at yesterday, Zambia’s cumulative total of Covid-19 cases stood at 14,830 according to the Ministry of Health daily update.Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya made an appeal to the public to avoid complacency despite the drop in numbers of new coronavirus cases.He also announced that the country has 21 patients in various facilities with 7 on oxygen.Ironically, the world had just woken up to the revelation that the leader of the United States of America President Donald Trump had tested positive for Covid-19.While, US Charge D’ Affairs David Young announced the donation of laboratory equipment worth K10 million which will strengthen and intensify the covid-19 testing.The virus is very real and it is encouraging that many donors have come on board to support Zambia’s fightLast week, China delivered more Covid-19 preventative materials to Zambia. Li Jie, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, said on Friday the international community still needs to support Zambia as the country has continued to see a rise in both new cases and deaths.Li Jie, the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia pledged that China was ready to support Zambia and other African countries as soon as the Covid-19 vaccine was ready for roll out.On his part, Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said China was taking the lead in supporting Zambia not only in the fight against the pandemic but in the health sector in general.Zambia, he said, will remain indebted to the support rendered by China not only in the provision of health materials but infrastructure in the health sector.He noted that the donation will change the landscape in the way Zambia was managing Covid-19 cases.The picture across the world, largely remains precarious.At least 35,954 people across Africa have died of coronavirus-related complications, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update Wednesday.The death toll is included in 1,472,433 people confirmed to have been infected so far since April when zero case was recorded in Egypt.Meanwhile, 1,217,457 patients have recovered as Africa maintains more than 80% recovery rate over the past month.South Africa recorded the largest number of cases and deaths but also recoveries that stand now at 672,600, 16,700 and 606,500 respectively.Of the five geographic regions in the continent, Southern Africa is the worst affected with 735,500 cases, 17,900 deaths and 653,100 recoveries.North Africa recorded 333,600 cases, West Africa 176,200, East Africa 169,400, and Central Africa 57,800.This is not the time to give up on the fight against the spread of coronavirus.Numbers of new infections may be dropping but the virus is still infectious and has the potential to kill.The economic and social toll has been felt across all sectors and if you consider the academic fall out caused by Covid-19 it would be maniacal to ignore the basic public health rules.Let us not relent, Mask Up, Practice hand hygiene, maintain social distance and avoid going out if you can. The Sun