Zambia Covid-19 Situation Deteriorating - UN

The United Nations has declared that the Covid-19 situation in Zambia is deteriorating at an alarming rate, with cases confirmed in all ten of the country’s provinces. 

Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces have remained the epicentre since the start of the outbreak in March 2020. Border towns including Chirundi, Solwezi and Nakonde have also been particularly hard hit by the virus. 

In response, The Ministry of Health announced that it will open dedicated health facilities  in Copperbelt and Solwezi districts to handle the increased number of cases. 

“The number of cases continues to increase with over 10,000 cases as 19 August. The majority of new cases are locally transmitted. Over 80 per cent of deaths reported occurred outside health facilities indicating a higher community transmission and severe cases not seeking treatment from health facilities. Out of the country’s 116 districts, 48 have confirmed COVID-19 cases,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in its latest update.

As of 19 August the UN has confirmed 10,218 cases of Covid-19 - compared to just 4,481 on 29 July. It has also observed a fourfold increase in the average number of daily reported cases: from 52 in the week ending 9 July to 248 in the week 9 August. 

The UN has attributed this spike in cases to poor compliance with prevention measures such as the use of masks, hand hygiene and physical distancing. Limited laboratory testing also remains a key challenge to Zambia’s Covid-19 response.