Zambia on 17% COVID-19 positivity

Two children aged five years and three months are among the five people who have died from COVID-19 in last 24 hours in the country.

Giving a COVID-19 update today, Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo says all the five deceased were unvaccinated.

Ms Masebo says four deaths were recorded from Lusaka and one from North western province

She says the country has also recorded 609 new COVID-19 cases out of 3,488 tests conducted in the last 24 hours giving 17% overall positivity.

Ms Masebo adds that the majority of the people suffering from Covid-19 including those dying from the disease are carrying the Omicron variant and are unvaccinated.

Ms Masebo further states that there are currently 112 active cases admitted to isolation facilities with 52 on oxygen while five patients are in critical condition.

She adds that 5,897 patients are currently under home management.

And Ms Masebo says the country has now entered the fourth wave of the COVID-19.

She says the disease intelligence arm; the Zambia National Public Health Institute with the Ministry of Health has revealed a significant rise in the number of new cases, admissions,deaths and test positivity rates.

Ms Masebo says the rise in the overall COVID-19 positivity rate means there is an increased community transmission of COVID-19.

[QFM]