• IARs will provide a critical opportunity for the Ministry to assess performance.
• The process will enable the Ministry to strengthen preparedness, surveillance and response interventions.
• Zambia has recorded 208 new confirmed Covid cases with one death.

Ministry of Health says it will be conducting Intra-Action Reviews (IARs) in six hotspot provinces this week.
In a statement, Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Malama revealed that the Reviews will be done through the Zambia National Public Health Institute with support from World Health Organisation (WHO) and in collaboration with multi-sectoral partners, starting with Copperbelt, followed by North-western, Muchinga, Eastern, Western, and Southern provinces.
He said the IARs will provide a critical opportunity for the Ministry to assess performance, learn lessons and share experiences regarding the fight against Covid-19.
“This process will enable us strengthen our preparedness, surveillance and response interventions. During this window of reduced transmission and hospitalizations, we are focusing on increasing our various capacities and improving our understanding of the ever evolving epidemiological profile of Covid-19.,” Dr. Malama said.
He assured citizens that the Ministry has continued focusing on ensuring continuity in the provision of other routine essential health services.
Meanwhile, Dr. Malama urged citizens to take advantage of the availability of the AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson and Sinopharm vaccines in the country to get vaccinated to protect themselves from future appalling effects of the pandemic.
He disclosed that the country recorded 208 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours out of 6,555 tests, representing 3.2% positivity rate, with only one death and 320 discharges.
“Today, the distribution of the new cases and Provincial positivity are as follows: Central 7, Copperbelt 34, Eastern 21, Luapula 32, Lusaka 12, Muchinga 17, Northern 25, North-western 32, Southern 14, and Western 14. The cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date now stands at 205, 107,” he stated.
“We are further encouraged by our decreasing mortality; only one new Covid-19 related deaths was reported from Muchinga province. The cumulative number of Covid-19 related deaths recorded to date now stands at 3,587 classified as 2,691 Covid-19 deaths and 896 Covid-19 associated deaths.”
He further stated that the country currently has 2,294 active cases, with 2,148 under community management and 146 admitted to Covid-19 isolation facilities.
“Of those admitted, 98 of patients on Oxygen and 29 are in critical condition. We continue to record fewer hospitalizations, with 14 new admissions in the last 24hours,” Dr. Malama added.