Lusaka – Zambian Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said on Monday that the COVID-19 pandemic would worsen non-communicable diseases, calling for a healthier lifestyle to lessen the impact.
Non-communicable diseases caused by things such as smoking abuse of alcohol and inactivity are likely to be worsened by the pandemic, he told a daily update on COVID-19.
“One can easily die if such habits are not controlled,” Chilufya said.
The minister said most patients dying of COVID-19 in the country had underlying diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and urged those with such conditions to continue taking medication.
He said Zambia recorded one COVID-19 death in the previous 24 hours, bringing total deaths to 288.
The country also reported 72 new confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 1,169 tests conducted, bringing cumulative cases to 12,097.
(Xinhua/NAN)