The Zambia National Public Health Institute says surveillance activities at all entry points, communities, and health facilities in the country have been heightened in view of the Coronavirus which has now hit about 30 nations.

Institute Head of Communication Information and Research Mazyanga Liwewe told Money FM News in an interview that this is to see whether there is anyone presenting cases and is at risk, either he or she traveled to a place where there is the infection or came in close contact with a person  who has the virus.

Ms. Liwewe disclosed that an isolation Centre has been established in Chilanga District and Levy Mwanawasa Hospital, where anyone presenting some symptoms will be monitored and put on treatment.
“In view of the Coronavirus which has now hit close to 30 countries, we have heightened surveillance activities at points of entry, communities, and health facilities in the country to see whether we can find anybody who is presenting signs and are at risk,” she said.
Ms. Liwewe said “Our major effort has been to prepare adequately in an event that we have a case within Zambia. What we have done through the coordination of the Zambia National Public Health Institute at the Ministry of Health is to activate our public health information Centre and it’s on alert.”

She said the Ministry of Health is also trying to do a lot of community sensitization programmes to explain what the disease is all about and how to prevent it.

According to numbers from China’s national health commission, 73 new deaths from novel coronavirus have been reported in mainland China as of today, bringing the total deaths to 636.
The commission said Novel coronavirus, also known as 2019, has been confirmed in more than 31,000 people in mainland China and Two people confirmed to have the virus have died elsewhere, one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong.