Zambia has started demanding a valid negative SARS-CoV-2 certificate from any visitors to the country, its Health Ministry said on Monday.
The southern African nation has started demanding the certificate, which should not be older than 72 hours, failure to which travellers will be tested at the points of entry.
“As the pandemic continues to revolve across the globe and closer to home, our points of entry remain on high alert with screening and testing heightened, despite the reduced number of travellers seen at our borders,’’ Health Minister, Jonas Chanda, said in a statement.
Chanda said both Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RTDs) were being utilised, depending on the presentation of the traveller.
He added that the country has not recorded any increases in the number of respiratory tract infections identified at the border entries.
READ ALSO: IPI Nigeria Domesticates, Approves New Constitution — Secretary
Meanwhile, the country recorded 153 new COVID-19 cases out of 4,353 tests done in the last 24 hours, with the cumulative figure now standing at 84,950.
On the other hand, 619 patients were discharged during the same period bringing the total recoveries to 82,375.
However, six people died during the same period, bringing the total deaths to 1,164. (Xinhua/NAN)