About 202 COVID-19 patients in Zambia's health facilities are on oxygen therapy with 14 of them in critical condition, a government official said on Saturday.

Minister of Health Jonas Chanda said 312 patients were currently in admission in various health facilities in all the country's 10 provinces.

Zambia on Saturday announced 1,796 new cases out of 9,577 tests done bringing the cumulative figure to 36,074.

The cases were recorded in 55 of the country's 116 districts while 10 people died bringing the total deaths to 537.

Among the dead, 203 are classified as COVID-19 related deaths, 331 as COVID-19 associated deaths while three are yet to be classified, he added.

He further said about 1,001 patients were discharged in the same period bringing the total recoveries to 25,106.

He said the pandemic was definitely going to be around for a long time and that the country has been left with no choice but to become more compliant with public health measures.