Govt Approves Coronavirus Contingency Plan

At a meeting of Cabinet a contingency plan and budget for fighting the coronavirus pandemic in Zambia has been approved.

Speaking on the plan, Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya has described the plan as an urgent instrument for action and a multisectoral, coordinated approach that encompasses government, cooperating partners, the private sector, and society.

In addition to Government’s implementation of the plan, Siliya stated that Cabinet is calling on citizens to practice good hygiene and to avoid gatherings in order to minimise spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has advised citizens not to panic stating, “Let me reassure the nation once more, not to panic because as our health experts are working vigorously hard day and night to effectively address the situation. In this regard, I wish to commend our health workers who have demonstrated a great sense of responsibility, professionalism, selflessness and determination by being on the battle-front in fighting COVID-19, in order to protect every Zambian life.”

The President has also called upon all stakeholders to support Cabinet’s plan and to help ensure its effective implementation. He also cautioned businesses against hiking prices of goods for no justifiable reason and seeking to profit from the outbreak.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya last weekend 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.

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.