Health Minister Proposes Lockdown

According to reports this weekend Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya has proposed a full lockdown in a bid to stop further spreading of COVID-19.

The minister’s proposal follows a raft of measures introduced last week, including the closures of bars. As of midnight on Thursday all bars, nightclubs, gyms and other non-essential businesses were closed, with restaurants now only serving take out. Public gatherings including conferences, weddings and funerals have been restricted to no more than 50 people and all non-essential foreign travel is to be suspended. Meanwhile, domestic flights will be redirected to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for screening.

The number of cases in the country reached 29 on Sunday.

According to reports by Diggers, President Lungu has opposed a total lockdown such as the one South Africa is currently observing on the basis that Zambia is landlocked. Objection also came from the Finance Minister Dr Bwalya Ngandu who was concerned about the economic impact and the limited resources that Zambia would have in that scenario. 

Meanwhile, three church mother bodies along with some independent churches, have urged the president to consider a lockdown. The church has suspended gatherings for a period of 14 days in a bid to halt the virus.

Executive Director of Chapter One Foundation Linda Kasonde has urged the Government to declare COVID-19 as a national disaster.

“We believe the COVID-19 pandemic falls within the definition of an event that is associated with the impact of a human induced or natural hazard and it has caused and will cause serious disruption in the functioning of society. The pandemic will cause widespread human losses which our fragile heath care system and economy cannot withstand,” Kasonde stated.