15 Zambian lawmakers test positive for COVID-19

LUSAKA, July 24 (Xinhua) — Fifteen Zambian lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19 after mass tests conducted on all lawmakers this week, the country’s health minister said on Friday.

The 156 lawmakers underwent COVID-19 tests during an exercise carried out on Wednesday after the National Assembly abruptly adjourned following a surge in cases and deaths.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said all the affected lawmakers have been contacted and isolated. Speaking during a COVID-19 update, the health minister said none of the lawmakers was in a critical condition, adding that 15 staff members at the National Assembly also tested positive. Meanwhile, Zambia reported 154 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative number to 3,856.

The health minister said this was out of 835 tests conducted and that the country also recorded two deaths, bringing the total deaths to 136. A total of 253 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, bringing the total recoveries to 1,941.