National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC) Director General Dr Connie Osborne has led staff at the head office in Lusaka in testing for COVID-19. The tests were carried out on Wednesday the 13th of January 2021 by the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI)’s Disease Surveillance and Rapid Response team. The decision to test everybody was arrived at as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the virus after two COVID-19 positive cases of staff were reported at the national office. Some family members of staff also took the COVID-19 test with Dr Osborne opening the way by taking the test ahead of everyone. The two positive cases were detected by ZNPHI in a COVID-19 testing requirement for individuals participating in the Zambia Population Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) which will be conducted around the country in selected households.

Prepared by NAC Communications Unit