By Kalata News,
LUSAKA, 12/01/24 – UNITED STATES Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales recently received his COVID-19 booster shot with a call for every Zambian to protect themselves, their family, and their community.
Ambassador Gonzales asked, “have you gotten your COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot yet? If you haven’t received your vaccination or booster yet, visit your nearest health clinic to get vaccinated.”
This was amidst concerns that Covid 19 cases in Zambia are slowly but steading increasing. In the period 2021 to 2022, Zambia’s daily new Covid 19 cases were at over 5 thousand and total deaths from less than 100.
Currently Zambia has close to 4 thousand active Covid 19 cases.
The coming of Cholera has made other contagious diseases to be forgotten by both the Zambia National Health Programme Initiative (ZNPHI) and the Ministry of Health and their international partners.
“Hey Zambia, we are mixing, mingling and travelling more than ever again, but COVID is still threat. Every one of us should have vaccinated or boosted regularly to play our role in protecting our community,” Ambassador Gonzales adds.
At its peak, Zambia recorded over 4 thousand deaths from 31 thousand cases. Those that died were from all walks of life but also included prominent Zambians from the Judiciary, media, politicians and health practitioners.
According the World Health Organisation (WHO), the risks of getting COVID-19 are higher in crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces where infected people spend long periods of time together in close proximity.
Outbreaks have been reported in places where people have gather, often in crowded indoor settings and where they talk loudly, shout, breathe heavily or sing such as restaurants, choir practices, fitness classes, nightclubs, offices and places of worship.
WHO advises that to properly wear your mask, one must make sure their mask covers their nose, mouth and chin and that they clean one’s hands before putting their masks on, before and after you taking it off.
They also advise that you take off your mask, store it in a clean plastic bag, and every day either wash it if it’s a fabric mask or dispose of it in a trash bin if it’s a medical mask.
Don’t use masks with valves.
WHO also says to make your environment as safe as possible:
- Avoid the 3Cs: spaces that areclosed,crowded or involveclose contact.
- Meet people outside. Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor ones, particularly if indoor spaces are small and without outdoor air coming in.
- If you can’t avoid crowded or indoor settings, take these precautions:
- Open a window to increase the amount of natural ventilation when indoors.
- Wear a mask (see above for more details).
By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses that cause colds, flu and COVID-19.
To ensure good hygiene you should:
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with either an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. This eliminates germs that may be on your hands, including viruses.
- Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the used tissue immediately into a closed bin and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently, especially those which are regularly touched, such as door handles, faucets and phone screens.
If the past is anything to go by, the period December to February in Zambia has always been the ideal period where Covid 19 has exponentially spread in Zambia and the highest number of Covid 19 deaths.
