COVID19 CASES ON RISE

By OLIVER SAMBOKO ZAMBIA has continued recording increased number of COVID-19 cases, with the country recording 186 new cases in the last 24 hours. The cumulative number of confirmed covid19 cases to date now stands at 93,106. Giving an update on the covid19 situation, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama, said the country has also recorded one   death in the last 24 hours from Kitwe on the Copperbelt. He said the death was recorded was of a 37-year old male with history of diabetes and hypertension, bringing the cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded to date to 1,267. Dr Malama also disclosed that a total of 83 discharges were recorded from both the COVID-19 isolation facilities and home management, bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 91,102. He also said the cumulative number of doses of COVID 19 vaccines administered stands at 134,832 for both AstraZeneca  and sinopharm. He said the threat of the third wave  is becoming more imminent and that to avert a further upsurge, every citizen should adhere to the prescribed COVID-19 prevention public health measures. “In this regard, I reiterate the need to get to the healthcare facility whenever you are unwell,” he cautioned. Dr Malama retaliated the need for all international travelers to present a  SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative certificate at entry, adding that international travelers coming from high-risk countries are required to be swabbed for  nasal pharyngeal samples collection for PCR testing.