Government has declared the University of Zambia (UNZA) as a quarantine centre for COVID-19 suspected cases.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya announced at the briefing in Lusaka that a section of UNZA has been barricaded to seclude it from the university community to be used for quarantining essential workers who include trackers.

Dr. Chilufya said the newly declared quarantine centre at UNZA will be utilized for track drivers who will be under an escort when they enter the country.

He said government is striving to ensure that there is minimum disruption to the movement of goods and services hence the decision to allow lorries to keep moving as long as they are quarantined when they enter the country.

He disclosed that currently, Livingstone has about 125 track drivers who are being quarantined at an isolation centre.

Meanwhile, Zambia has not recorded any new confirmed cases of COVID-19 from 56 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.

This is the third consecutive day of not recording news coronavirus cases in Zambia.

Dr. Chilufya said the cumulative total number of confirmed cases remains at 39 with one death.

He said another COVID-19 patient has recovered and been discharged today, bringing the total number of recoveries to three.

The minister however said the fact that Zambia has not recorded any new cases in the last three days should not make the country relax in implementing preventive measures.

He said government has spread surveillance to the borders in Eastern Province following reports that Malawi has also started recording cases of coronavirus.

He said government has heightened surveillance activities to ensure that people from risk countries are quarantined and tested.

Dr. Chilufya has since advised the public to continue following measures that include social distancing, washing of hands and staying home to prevent the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health has urged institutions that have received face masks, surgical gloves and sanitizers from donors to pass on the donations to the traders in markets and members of the public.

He said people who trade in the markets needs to be given masks and sanitizers so that they are protected from person to person transmission of the virus.

He said institutions that received donations should liaise with the association of marketeers on the modalities of passing on the donated materials to the users.

Dr. Chilufya said members of the public should equally be given the masks and other sanitation materials which have been donated to various institutions.

From the time coronavirus broke out in Zambia, 39 cases have been recorded, out of which one person died while three have recovered and discharged from isolation and treatment centres.

Around the world, seismologists are observing a lot less ambient seismic noise — meaning, the vibrations generated by cars, trains, buses and people going about their daily lives. And in the absence of that noise, Earth’s upper crust is moving just a little less.

Thomas Lecocq, a geologist and seismologist at the Royal Observatory in Belgium, first pointed out this phenomenon in Brussels.

Brussels is seeing about a 30% to 50% reduction in ambient seismic noise since mid-March, around the time the country started implementing school and business closures and other social distancing measures, according to Lecocq. That noise level is on par with what seismologists would see on Christmas Day, he said.

Less noise means seismologists can detect smaller events

The reduction in noise has had a particularly interesting effect in Brussels: Lecocq and other seismologists are able to detect smaller earthquakes and other seismic events that certain seismic stations wouldn’t have registered.

Take, for example, the seismic station in Brussels. In normal times, Lecocq said, it’s “basically useless.”Seismic stations are typically set up outside urban areas, because the reduced human noise makes it easier to pick up on subtle vibrations in the ground. The one in Brussels, however, was built more than a century ago and the city has since expanded around it.

The daily hum of city life means that the station in Brussels wouldn’t typically pick up on smaller seismic events. Seismologists would instead rely on a separate borehole station, which uses a pipe deep in the ground to monitor seismic activity.

“But for the moment, because of the city’s quietness, it’s almost as good as the one on the bottom,” Lecocq said.Seismologists in other cities are seeing similar effects in their own cities.Paula Koelemeijer posted a graph on Twitter showing how noise in West London has been affected, with drops in the period after schools and social venues in the United Kingdom closed and again after a government lockdown was announced.

Still, seismologists say the reduction in noise is a sobering reminder of a virus that has sickened more than one million people, killed tens of thousands and brought the normal rhythms of life to a halt.

It shows people are heeding lockdown rules

Lecocq said the graphs charting human noise are evidence that people are listening to authorities’ warnings to stay inside and minimize outside activity as much as possible.

“From the seismological point of view, we can motivate people to say, ‘OK look, people. You feel like you’re alone at home, but we can tell you that everyone is home. Everyone is doing the same. Everyone is respecting the rules,'” he said.

The data can also be used to identify where containment measures might not be as effective, said Raphael De Plaen, a postdoctoral researcher at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

“That could be used in the future by decision makers to figure out, ‘OK, we’re not doing things right. We need to work on that and make sure that people respect that because this is in the interest of everyone.”

Source:CNN

A 31-year-old man caused laughter in the Kapiri Mposhi magistrate court when he begged the court not to imprison him because he would contract coronavirus and die while in jail.

Yohan Shenge of Soweto compound in Kapiri Mposhi was facing three counts of livestock theft contrary to sections 275 (1) and 272 of the penal code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Shenge stole two goats, 19 guinea pigs and one herd of cattle all valued at K6, 275 belonging to three different people.

He readily pleaded guilty to all the three counts.

In the first count, Shenge stole two goats belonging to Gelius Lwempe on 27 March 2020 at around 18:00 hours from the plaintiff’s premises in Kasanta area in chief Mukonchi’s chiefdom.

According to the statement of facts read before court, Lwempe secured his goats and went to sleep but when he woke up the following day, he discovered that two of his goats value at K 700 were missing.

Lwempe followed the trails of the goats which led him to a place where the said animals had been slaughtered from and recovered two goat skins.

Further, trails led Lwempe to Shenge’s house where he recovered some goat meat but the now convict had already sold some portions of it.

In count two, facts before court were that on the same day around 21:00 hours, Shenge stole nineteen guinea pigs valued at K575, the property of Aaron Zulu.

In count three, Shenge, on 19 March 2020, around 17:00 hours broke into a kraal in Kabwale area where he stole one herd of cattle valued at K5, 000 belonging to Olipah Chileshe.

Shenge was apprehended and charged with the subject offences on 28 March 2020 after eluding arrest for some time.

But when he appeared before Kapiri Mposhi magistrate Brenda Chiganda for judgement, Shenge asked the court to exercise lenience on him fearing that he would contract and die from COVID-19 if sent to jail.

However, Magistrate Chiganda observed that stock theft was a serious offence which needed stiff punishment to deter would be offenders.

She then sentenced Shenge to six and half years jail term with effect from the date of his arrest.

Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili has reiterated government’s call for the public to continue praying from home to avoid crowding churches.

Reverend Sumaili has urged Christians to pray from home today during the celebrations of Palm Sunday.

She has appealed to the church and its members to continue praying for the nation especially during this difficult time of the COVID-19.

The Minister has also thanked the Church Mother Bodies for their continued cooperation with Government in the fight against the COVID-19.

Speaking to ZNBC news, Reverend Sumaili also hailed the Catholic Church for coming up with an initiative where its members will place the Palm branches on their doors as a symbol of Palm Sunday celebration.

She said although the day will be celebrated from homes, placing palm branches on doors will keep the meaning for Palm Sunday.

Fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda has implored Zambians to listen to all the advice being provided and follow all guidelines set by the authorities at all levels in order to control Coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a statement to the media, the former head of state said that working together, the country can manage to kick this Coronavirus out of Zambia.

“Mankind is faced with very hard times fighting this invisible enemy called COIVID 19. It has ravaged the entire world leaving many families without their loved ones and many more who have been taken ill. This deadly enemy is now in our motherland Zambia. I am made to understand that although many get infected by this virus, the majority will recover. Let us find solace in that fact,” he said.

“Our President, His Excellency, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the Government working through the ministry of health, has taken up this challenge and sounded the battle cry where each and every Zambian will be needed to fight this war. We have been educated on how to look after ourselves time and time again by our President and the Ministry of health.
The question is; are we all as Zambians citizens and residents doing what is needed to protect ourselves and stop this deadly virus from coming into ours homes?”

He emphasized the need to observe social distancing.

“SOCIAL DISTANCING- this means we have to keep each other at a minimum distance of 1 meter away. I am appealing to you my fellow citizens to listen to this advice. At this point I would like to appeal to all public passenger bus operators to strictly adhere to this advice by drastically reducing numbers in the minibuses as prescribed by the authorities,” he said.

“HAND WASHING- We have all been told and taught how to wash our hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. I note that within many places in Lusaka hand washing facilities are now provided. May I insist that you my fellow citizens use these facilities and wash your hands appropriately for a minimum of 20 seconds. For those that can afford or find hand sanitizers please use them, BUT nothing beats washing your hands appropriately.”

On wearing masks, the Fourth Republican President encouraged Zambians that wearing of masks at work and in public does help with spread of the virus.

He emphasized that people should wear masks appropriately.

“WORK- we have again be advised that those that can work from home please do that and stay away from work. To the employers this is the time to use innovative ways of getting work done. To the employees that does not mean we become lazy. The economy depends on all of us doing our bit. Work hard from home and get the deadlines met and get your tasks done,” he guided.

“SCHOOLS- Our President made sure that all of the young people are protected by closing schools. I applaud His Excellency the President for this bold move. Our little ones are the future of this country. We MUST protect them. I ask the school systems also to be innovative and use the internet platforms to send out work and lectures for our children at home. We cannot afford to miss one day to educate the future of this country. I urge the parents to provide time for the children.”

He since commended front line staff for waging battle against COVID 19.