“Fellow Zimbabweans, I am addressing you yet again this
evening to give further information on measures, which Government is putting in
place to contain the spread of coronavirus.
These measures are also meant to mitigate the impact of the
virus on our economy, and on our society in general.
Since my address to you on 17th March, 2020, when we
declared Covid-19 a National Disaster, the worldwide spread of this baneful
virus has been rapid and surprising.
So far more than 340 000 people have been infected
globally; while more than 14 000 people have since died. The world keeps
counting both on new infections and fatalities.
It is a grim picture globally.
As already announced, our country has recorded two cases of
infection, both of them imported.
Sadly, in one such case — the latest to be announced — the
patient has since succumbed and died.
On behalf of the party, Zanu PF, Government, my family and
on my own behalf, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the family of the
late departed on this its saddest loss.
We share in their grief and join them in bereavement.
The sad passing on one of our own, as well as the
spiralling infections and deaths worldwide, require that we continue to
urgently review our situation with a view to strengthening our defences through
additional, more stringent measures.
Like I indicated in my previous address, we might have to
limit, suspend or even forego certain social, economic and recreational
activities we had grown accustomed to.
The pandemic today challenges all our normal chores, habits
and behaviours, and we all now have to adapt a new, unusual social culture.
To keep pace with the fast-changing national and global
situation, Government has decided on the following additional measures which
take immediate effect:
Border controls
While our borders remain open to essential traffic, both in
the interest of our economy and that of corresponding economies of our region,
we have decided to ban inessential travel and traffic, both in-bound or
out-bound.
Except for the movement of cargo, Government will close all
our borders to human traffic.
This, however, will not affect returning residents.
Screening on essential traffic will continue to be enforced
strictly, in line with best practices and guidelines prescribed by the World
Health Organisation (WHO).
As announced previously, measures on designated border
crossings remain in force.
Returning residents
All our returning residents, will be subjected to strict
screening procedures, including rigorous enforcement of the 21-day self-quarantine
which must not be breached for whatever reason.
Certificates of Covid-19 fitness, especially from countries
with high incidence of infections, would greatly assist all of us in
controlling the pandemic both inside our country and globally.
Travel within country
Further, from now until further notice, Government
discourages unnecessary travel in and around the country.
To the extent possible, families are encouraged to postpone
non-essential travel.
Additionally, unnecessary movements beyond homes, including
social visits to relatives and friends, should be avoided.
Essential trips should be trimmed to the barest minimum,
both by frequency and by numbers involved.
Ban on entertainment and recreational activities
With immediate effect, Government has put a blanket ban on
gatherings around night clubs, bars, beerhalls, movie houses, swimming pools,
gymnasiums and sporting activities, until further notice.
I am aware that this curtailment of social activities will
be hard on all of us. However, such tough measures have become necessary and
unavoidable for our collective safety as a nation.
Hospital visits
With immediate effect, visits to hospitals and clinics will
be reduced to one visit per day, even then involving one relative per patient.
Public gatherings
With immediate effect, public gatherings may not exceed 50
persons.
Such gatherings include religious fellowships, worship,
weddings, conferences, workshops, meetings and funerals.
E-Services across sectors
Wherever possible, Government is encouraging automated
electronic services in order to minimise human contact and interface.
This is particularly important in dispensing essential
services such as banking, payment of utilities and other services for which
on-line options are available.
Informal markets
While Government will not, at this stage, close down
informal markets, citizens are encouraged to limit their visits to such
markets, and in any case to reduce the members involved, as well as frequencies
to these markets.
Health personnel, security personnel and other volunteer
workers will be deployed in these markets to enhance screening services.
Members of the public are thus urged to assist any such
measures and processes.
Mass transit and commuter services
All transport operators are encouraged to comply with
public health measures which Government will be announcing shortly, all for the
safety of commuters.
These include screening on points of embarkation and
occasional de-contamination operations targeting public vehicles and depots.
Contact tracing
Given the high multiplier nature of Covid-19, control and
containment measures largely depend on ability to track down and account for
all persons who may have come in close contact with an infected person.
Members of the public, and especially families, are
required to cooperate with health personnel and law enforcement agencies
deployed on such tracing operations.
Possibilities of decongesting workplaces
Business associations of employers are encouraged to
explore creative ways of reducing human concentrations at work stations.
Additionally, they are also being encouraged to observe
safe social distancing parameters as set out by WHO.
Wherever possible, non e-essential staff, or even essential
staff whose services can be efficiently rendered from home, should be
encouraged to take turns to work, or to serve from home, respectively.
Corporate responsibilities and responsible pricing
As we go through these extraordinary times for our nation,
I would want to appeal to our business community to redouble their commitments
towards social responsibilities so we tackle the pandemic together.
More importantly, I appeal to those involved in the
manufacturing and trading of materials essential in the fight against
coronavirus to resist the temptation of callously feeding fat on the current
situation through extortionate pricing.
These materials include protective clothing, masks and
sanitisers, among other items.
Any evidence of irresponsible corporate misbehaviour will
leave Government with no option, but come down heavily on offenders. We have to behave responsibly in order to protect the public.
I am also aware of concerns, which continue to be raised by
our health personnel who are in the frontline of fighting this pandemic.
These great men and women are the heroes and heroines of
our nation.
They continue to deliver services at great personal risk;
they continue to deliver services at personal great risk, they continue to save
lives.
They deserve our support; they deserve our unstinting
praise and accolades. They must be rewarded.
Above all, we should make their already risky medical chores
both safer and less onerous.
Government continues to procure more items needed by our
health personnel in the fight against the pandemic.
To that end, I have directed the release of additional
funding towards the procurement of more safety clothing.
Additional support continues to be flown into the country,
while more and more centres are being designated and appropriately equipped for
purposes of enhancing our overall responsiveness to the pandemic.
Now is the time to show resolve, commitment and sacrifice
on the part of us all, so together, we pull through this challenge.
Without doubt, our collective resolve and sense of purpose
will beat all odds that this pandemic may place in our way.
We have to make our nation virus-free.
I thank you and a very good evening.
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