Zambia on Friday reported 1,029 new COVID-19 infections and 18 deaths in the highest daily spike and deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic. 

The cases and deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative cases and deaths to 25,326 and 441 respectively, according to the health ministry. 

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the new cases were picked from 11,855 tests done in the last 24 hours. 

About 369 patients were discharged from various health facilities, bringing the total recoveries to 20,349. 

The Zambian minister further said the status of the pandemic during the second wave requires urgent collaboration and coordinated response approach to contain it as it was spreading rapidly. 

The government has since changed the working model for public workers who will now be working on a rotational basis while some workers will be doing their work virtually in order to avoid physical contacts.