Zambia confirms first 2 cases of COVID-19

Zambia on Wednesday announced its first two COVID-19 cases, with the government assuring citizens that there was no need to panic.

The patients are a 39-year-old man and his 37-year-old wife that had traveled to France for a holiday with their two children for 10 days and the surveillance system at the Lusaka International Airport managed to track them upon arrival after screening.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the couple was well but have been quarantined for observation while the children did not record any symptoms.

"Our surveillance system was able to detect that they transited high-risk COVID-19 countries," he told reporters during a press briefing update.

According to him, the fact that the couple was able to be picked by the surveillance shows how effective the system was.

The government, he said, has since heightened its surveillance measures such as intensified screenings following the recording of the first COVID-19 cases.

He said the government was also monitoring other passengers who may have been in the plane with the couple and were residents in Zambia on their conditions.

The country, he said, had adequate testing and other medical requirements to tackle COVID-19 and thanked cooperating partners for coming on board to help with resources.

"There should be no need to panic. All is well and we will not lock down unless we have reason to do so," he added.