Zambia has recorded its first death from coronavirus, and the number of confirmed cases has risen by three to 39, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said on Thursday, according to Zambia’s local media.
Speaking at press conference Chilufya said the deceased had a history of travelling to South Africa.
“The same patient had an underlying chronic respiratory disorder and a history of travel to South Africa and contact with some cohorts who traveled to high-risk countries prior to his admission,” Chilufya said as quoted by the country’s local media.
Chilufya said the three new cases registered in the southern African country had all contracted the virus from people who had traveled abroad.
Meanwhile, Malawi has also registered three cases of the deadly disease.
President Peter Mutharika made the announcement in a Special Address to the Nation that lasted one minute and 23 seconds on MBCTV.
He said the three cases have been confirmed in Lilongwe. Mutharika said one of the patients is a 63-year-old who had recently travelled to India. The other two are her relation and her domestic worker
The President has announced that Malawi has confirmed 3 cases: An Indian Lady who returned from India. The lady confirmed to have come in contact with a Covid-19 relative. She went into self-quarantine upon return during which time she developed symptoms of the disease.
Africa has now registered almost 6,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 200 deaths. The continent is already suffering a huge economic impact from lockdowns aiming to contain the virus and a sharp fall in global demand for commodities.