Four more positive COVID-19 cases have been recorded out of the 322 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya has said.

This brings the cumulative number to 74 cases ,35 discharges, 36 active cases with 3 deaths.

Speaking today at the latest COVID-19 update, Dr Chilufya said one case is from the mass screening which was done in Kafue, second from George compound, another from matero and the fourth is a medical doctor who was attending to a deceased chilenje patient.

“The first case is of a 52 year old man from Shikoswe out of the mass screening which was conducted from Kafue , the second is a 30 year old medical doctor who was attending to the deceased from Chilenje, another one is of the 23 year old woman of Matero following an alert from the neighbor and the fourth is of a 63 year old man of george compound also from an alert” Dr Chilufya explained and said all the patients have been isolated.

Dr Chilufya also announced that the results of the suspicious death of the man from Choma who died at UTH will be availed tomorrow.

He said as a result of increased positive cases with Kafue alone recording a total of 11, mass screening will continue and be rolled out into Lusaka starting with Emmasdale and Chaisa before moving into Matero and George compound.

He announced further that additional community screening will be intensified in various places in Lusaka and urged everyone to cooperate in order to identify new cases and isolate them before they spread further.

“Let’s ensure we cooperate with the mass screening and with the health authorities. COVID-19 is still on the surge and we have to make sure it does not go beyond by taking action which involves you to stay at home and follow all the directives” he advised.

And on the recruitment of health personnel, Dr Chilufya updated that the process is almost complete and health workers will start reporting for work very soon and further announced that government is also engaging retired health personnel on part time basis to beef up health response.

He also assured that government is prioritizing the protection of frontline health workers by putting all necessary measures to increase their protection while capacitating them in various ways.

He said only when directives by the President and health authorities are followed will the country effectively fight COVID-19.