• 1,316 Dose 2 AstraZeneca vaccinations were administered in the last 24 hours.
• Cumulative vaccinations to date now stand at 142,198.
• In the last 24 hours the country has recorded 1,453 new cases with 54 deaths.

Ministry of Health says the administration of the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine will commence tomorrow throughout the week until the allocated vaccines per Province are depleted.

Speaking during the routine Covid-19 updates, Permanent Secretary Technical Services said Provincial Health Directors country wide will today avail the vaccination sites in line with the guidance to move away from health facilities to more open and spacious sites to avoid congestion.

“As we resume Dose 1 vaccinations, we encourage all health care workers, teachers, men and women in uniform and other frontline personnel, elderly and people with underlying conditions to consider getting vaccinated. Our approach will continue being first come first to be saved basis.”

“In the last 24 hours, we administered 1,316 Dose 2 AstraZeneca vaccinations. Our cumulative vaccinations to date now stand at 142,198 Dose 1 vaccinations (135,299 AstraZeneca and 6,899 Sinopharm) and of these, 29,040 have gone on to receive Dose 2 vaccinations [i.e. 22,704 Dose 2 AstraZeneca (17% of those that received dose 1) and 6,336 Dose 2 Sinopharm (92% of those that received dose 1),” Dr. Malama said.

And Dr. Malama observed a reduction in the number of active cases with a high of 22,867 on 24th June, to today’s 15,681, coupled with reductions in daily admissions to hospitals from the 259 on 22nd June to 160 recorded in the last 24 hours.

He also noted that there has been general adherence to the directives with activities such as weddings, kitchen parties, Chilangamulilo, Matebeto, schools, colleges and Universities, although some owners of bars and night clubs have continued challenging the law with impunity.

“As a country we are encouraged by an observed reduction in the number of active cases with a high of 22,867 on 24th June, to today’s 15,681. We further note reductions in daily admissions to our hospitals from the 259 on 22nd June to 160 recorded in the last 24 hours. However, our overall positivity remains high at over 20%, whereas the recommended level is 5% to indicate reduced community transmission,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Dr. Malama disclosed that in the last 24 hours, the country has recorded 1,453 new cases out of 6,484 tests conducted, bringing total cases to 142,198.

He said the country also recorded 54 deaths, bringing the cumulative number of COVID-19 related mortalities to 2,672, with 2,682 recoveries .

“The cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded to date now stands at 2,672 classified as 1,924 COVID-19 deaths and 748 COVID-19 associated deaths. We discharged 2,682 patients 116 from our health facilities and 2,566 from home management,” Dr. Malama stated.

Dr. Malama further revealed that the country currently has 15,681 active cases, with 14,477, representing 92% under community management and 1,204 or 8% admitted to isolation facilities.

Among those currently admitted, 828 are on Oxygen therapy while 178 are in critical condition.