Govt Issues Directives To Employers On Coronavirus Response
The Government has announced additional measures in relation to the coronavirus pandemic and its arrival in Zambia last week.
Yesterday the Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Simon Miti announced the following measures should be implemented by employers with immediate effect:
Essential staff to remain on duty throughout the pandemic period.
Non essential staff to report for work on rotational basis or work remotely or from home
Non critical activities such as meetings, seminars, conferences and other non essential events to be suspended during the period of the pandemic
Dr Miti directed Government Heads of Department to only allow essential staff to remain on duty throughout the Coronavirus pandemic period.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has reiterated what the Government hopes to achieve with its plan for tackling the outbreak.
Writing on social media the President stated,
“Fellow Citizens,
My Government’s vigorous fight against COVID-19 is not based on trial-and-error, but on a well-thought-out Disease Outbreak Preparedness and Contingency Planning, consistent with global best practices in public health.
In view of this, my Government crafted and is currently implementing the COVID-19 Contingency and Response Plan, which shall achieve the following:
i. Strengthened surveillance and creating a more effective response system (including infrastructure with isolation rooms, sufficient oxygen supply, etc.).
ii. Efficient and networked laboratories.
iii. Deeper inter-sectoral collaborations.
iv. Strengthened Zambian public health system.
v. Secure adequate public health funding. In this regard, my Government has already set aside a budget of ZMW 659 Million under DMMU; and ZMW 57 Million under the Epidemic Preparedness Fund under Ministry of Health.
Further, as recently announced, the International Monetary Fund is making available a total of USD 50 Billion to affected countries through the Rapid Disbursing Emergency Facility, while the World Bank has approved support of up to USD 14 Billion to affected countries under a fast-track COVID-19 Facility.
As President, I will ensure that this Plan is effectively implemented and yields desired results, among them: containing the spread of COVID-19, safeguarding Zambian lives, and restoring accelerated socio-economic development.
I am urging you all to support the above Plan by doing the right thing, which is: to strictly adhere to COVID-19 measures which I recently announced and the guidelines given by Ministry of Health.
Together, we shall defeat COVID-19. In the words of that great son of Africa, Nelson Mandela:
“It always seems impossible until it is done”.
God bless you all. And, God bless Zambia.”
