Zambia has recorded 72 new Covid-19 cases out of 1, 169 tests done in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 12, 097.
Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya disclosed during the routine Covid-19 updates that the country has also recorded one facility death involving a 56 year old known hypertensive patient, bringing the death toll to 288.
Dr. Chilufya said the 288 deaths have been classified as 95 due to Covid-19 and 193 Covid-19 related fatalities.
He added that among the 34 patients currently admitted to Levy Mwanawasa isolation center, 14 are on Oxygen support while 6 are critically ill in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The Health Minister also stated that 23 patients are admitted to various facilities in other parts of the country and 7 of them are on Oxygen support.
“From the 72 cases, we picked 61out of routine screening 59 from Lusaka and 2 from Livingstone, 7 are from contacts to known individuals, and 3 are from Chipata, and 4 from Lusaka. 4 individuals again were screened in the communities and out of these 2 are from Chikankata and 2 are from Lusaka,” Dr. Chilufya revealed.
Dr. Chilufya further said the number of recoveries now stands at 11, 469 after the country discharged 362 people in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chilufya says it has been concluded that citizens are more scared of the Police and public health officers who have been enforcing the law than Covid-19.
He states that Covid-19 is a significant threat to sustainable development; hence members of the public should ensure that they adhere to the health guidelines.
“As we go round public places, bars, as we go round trading places with Police officers and officers from the local government authorities, we conclude that the public is more scared of the police than Covid-19, that is unfortunate. We should not be scared of enforcers, we should be scared of Covid-19.”
“Covid-19 will terminate your life, Covid-19 is a huge public health threat and has taken away our beloved ones. Today Covid-19 is a significant threat to sustainable development. We all need to comply with the legal framework that has been provided for in the Covid-19 response. We need to ensure that we adhere to Statutory Instruments 21, 22, and 62, the Public Health Act Cap 295 of the laws of Zambia, as well as the Presidential directives that have arisen from them,” he emphasized.
And Dr. Chilufya observed that people who have underlying hypertension and underlying diabetes are predisposed to severe disease of Covid-19.
He said the Ministry has noticed a significant rise in mortality in people with underlying hypertension or diabetes, adding that the combination of hypertension and diabetes is deadly even without Covid.
Dr. Chilufya also noted that Non-Communicable Diseases caused by smoking, abuse of alcohol and inactive physical fitness are likely to be worsened by Coronavirus as a person can easily die if such habits are not controlled.
‘Today our appeal is to the patients who are known hypertensive to ensure that you take your medicines for hypertension as prescribed by health practitioners. You should know that hypertension today in this unique season of Covid-19 is not the same as before.”
“Therefore hypertensives today we want to remind you that you are at higher risk, be compliant and do your reviews regularly,” he stated.