Coronavirus Cases Rise To 12, Zambia Moves Towards Lockdown
President Edgar Lungu has announced several new measures that will take place from midnight on Thursday, following the confirmation of a further ten cases of coronavirus in the country.
Speaking at a televised address on Wednesday afternoon, President Lungu reminded Zambians that the threat from the virus was “real” and that lives would be lost if citizens did not act quickly.
The President said that he had observed many Zambians not taking the virus seriously and continuing to shake hands and hug one-another.
He went on to announce a series of additional measures that will be implemented from Thursday. These are:
No visitors are to enter Zambia from countries affected by the coronavirus. Visitors from other countries will be quarantined on arrival for a period of 14 days.
All non-essential foreign travel is to be suspended, especially to countries with confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
Public gatherings such as conferences, weddings and funerals, are to be restricted to no more than 50 people.
Restaurants are to only remain open for takeaway meals.
All bars, nightclubs, gyms and other non-essential businesses are to close.
All flights will be redirected to arrive and depart from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, to ensure effective screening of passengers.
The measures were announced after the total number of coronavirus cases in Zambia climbed to 12.
11 of the infected persons are believed to have contracted the disease while travelling abroad, with one patient falling ill due to local transmission. All 12 are currently in quarantine.
In addition to the new measures, all schools and businesses are to remain closed, with the President saying that the huge social and economic blow caused by any lockdown is necessary to avert a total health crisis.
In his address the President went on to thank the donor community, NGOs, churches and businesses for their ongoing support in tackling the coronavirus outbreak.
