Zambia expands restrictions as COVID-19 cases rise

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Zambia on Thursday included gyms in the list of public places shut a day earlier as part measures to contain the third wave of COVID-19.

Kennedy Malama, a senior official at the Health Ministry, said this was in addition to schools and bars, and restrictions of meeting hours for churches and limited attendance to social gatherings such as weddings and funerals.

Briefing reporters on the status of the pandemic in the capital Lusaka, he said the nation has recorded 3,394 new COVID-19 cases out of 16,002 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall caseload to 122,244. He also reported 33 new virus-linked deaths, pushing the total to 1,525.

“A total of 1,462 discharges were made from both the COVID-19 isolation facilities and home management, which brings the cumulative number of recoveries to 101,885. There are currently 18,834 active cases, of which 18,001 are under community management and 833 are admitted to our COVID-19 isolation facilities,” he said.

Dr. Malama said among those currently under admission, 544 are on oxygen therapy, with 124 in critical condition.

As many as 142,089 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 6,215 are fully vaccinated.