Cabinet Directs MoH And Other Agencies To Enforce COVID-19 Measures

CABINET has directed the Ministry of Health and other agencies to enforce COVID-19 measures such as the mandatory wearing of masks in public.

In a statement issued yesterday after a virtual Cabinet meeting, Cabinet directed that the Ministry of Health, as lead institution, working with all other ministries involved in the fight against the COVID-19, in the multi-sectoral approach, should enforce measures announced by President Edgar Lungu during his national address on June 25, 2020.

“Mandatory use of face masks by everyone in public, avoiding unnecessary crowding and ensuring social distancing, providing facilities for hand hygiene and sanitation, regular cleaning and disinfecting public amenities, observing personal hygiene and coughing etiquette and avoiding unnecessary movements,” reads the statement.

Cabinet also noted that enforcement agencies have relaxed and that most of the measures are not being implemented as announced by the President.

The meeting further emphasised the need for the general public to also adhere to the announcement made by the President on the partial reopening of bars, taverns, and night clubs which were allowed to only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 18:00 hours to 22:00 hrs.

Meanwhile, Cabinet has also approved the National Cyber Security Policy which will ensure that effective mechanisms are put in place for a well-coordinated governance framework on cyber security thereby fostering the creation of a secure, reliable, and trustworthy cyber environment that increases confidence.

The meeting further noted that policy will assist in inculcating a culture of cyber security and protect victims against cybercrimes, guide the mechanism of coordinating cyber security matters, develop high local technical skills in cyber security and provide for Child Online Protection.
The policy will also promote the responsible use of social media platforms and facilitate identification, declaration and protection of national critical infrastructure.

“Government, through this Policy, will take responsibility of ensuring that the public sector, private sector, and civil society are not only aware of the dangers of cyberspace, but also that the respective sectors take necessary measures of securing themselves,” reads the statement.

This article originally appeared on Mwebantu