Zambia Records Third COVID-19 Case As Rwanda Enters Lockdown

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya has confirmed the third case of COVID-19 in the country. The case involves a Lusaka based man who travelled to Pakistan earlier in the month and returned on March 18th.

The confirmed case follows the first two cases announced last week, involving a Zambian couple of Lusaka; a 37-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man who returned to Lusaka from a 10-day holiday in France aboard an Emirates flight on 15th March 2020.

The patients were screened at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and placed under home quarantine as they did not display symptoms at the time of arrival. After the man reported feeling unwell and the couple were tested that were isolated and are being treated in Chilanga. According to the latest development from the minister the patients are responding well to treatment.

Under current guidelines anyone returning to the country following travel must quarantine themselves for a period of 14 days, to guard against spread of the virus. Dr Chilufya has warned that those found violating the rules will be dealt with by the authorities.

Meanwhile, Rwanda has become the first country in the region to impose a shutdown in order to try and contain the virus. The country so far has 17 confirmed cases. The shutdown means that citizens will no longer be able to leave their homes except for medical treatment, other essential services or groceries. Rwanda has also closed its borders, with goods and cargo and returning citizens required to quarantine for two weeks. The measures were introduced as of 23:59 on 21/03/2020 for a period of two weeks.

Across Africa 41 countries have recorded cases totalling 1,248 with 37 deaths.