Business unusual, as Zim takes on Covid-19

Mirirai Nsingo

Members of the public accessing Government premises in Zimbabwe will now be subjected to mandatory Coronavirus screening.

This was said by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday while launching the country’s preparedness and response plan.

“With immediate effect, all Government premises must be equipped for screening procedures.

“Personal hygiene and the use of alcohol-based sanitisers must be encouraged in all situations,” he said.

The private sector will also be expected to screen for Coronavirus at their premises.

“In the same spirit, Government encourages business and other establishments to do the same so our response is total and effective.”

Zimbabwe, which has not yet recorded any cases of the virus has already adopted a number of measures to curb its spread.

Some of the measures include mandatory screening at ports of entry, banning of public gatherings of 100 or more people as well as limiting unnecessary travel.

President Mnangagwa further added that Zimbabwe was escalating its national response after the pandemic reached the region, with Zambia recording its first two cases on Wednesday, while cases have been rising in South Africa.

“The pandemic has reached our region and we now have to escalate our national response. Above all, we must re-adjust our lives and behaviours, including foregoing certain fixtures, activities and practices we had grown accustomed to, in order to keep the pandemic at bay.

“This true holds at all levels: personal, community and national. Humanity is at risk and stands at hazardous crossroads.”

Since the first case of the pandemic was recorded in Wuhan, China in December 2019, to date 226 344 cases have been recorded with 9 310 deaths while 85 985 recovered.

The pandemic has currently shifted its epicentre to Italy where it has so far killed 2 978 people, with 35 713 cases recorded.