Number Of Covid-19 Deaths Could Be Higher Than Reported

The number of people dying from Covid-19 in Zambia could be higher than is being reported by health authorities, the US Embassy to Zambia has said. 

David Young, the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Lusaka, said many of the deaths caused by the pandemic remain undetected, particularly in rural parts of the country. 

Mr Young said that limited testing capacity meant that many may have died from Covid-19 without the cause of death being accurately identified. 

He predicted that, according to Centre for Disease Control and World Health Organisation models, Zambia could still be labouring under the pandemic by September, with up to 5 million people infected. 

Mr Young was addressing journalists undergoing training on coronavirus reporting sponsored by the US government. 

According to the Ministry of Health, 1,416 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Zambia, killing 11. 

All 11 people who have died from Covid-19 also suffered from underlying conditions such as heart problems, HIV or respiratory difficulties. 

David Young and President Edgar Lungu