Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya has confirmed the first Coronavirus death Zambia.

Speaking when he addressed the Thirteenth COVID-19 Update, Dr Chitalu Chilufya said the patient had an underlined chronic respiratory disorder and a history of travel to South Africa where he had contact with people that travelled to high-risk areas of the epidemic.
“I am saddened to report that we have lost one of our first COVID-19 patients.” He said.

Dr Chilufya said the deceased patient stayed in the health facility for six days and all his contacts are being followed up.

The Minister further said in the last 24 hours 160 tests were carried out of which three new cases have been confirmed.

“All the three cases are secondary contacts to two separate COVID 19 confirmed cases.” He said.

Dr Chilufya noted that local person to person transmission is now occurring in local communities.

“Cumulatively that brings Zambia’s COVID-19 cases to 39.” He said.

The Minister said this is out of the 752 individuals that were tested by the end of yesterday.