Africa-Press – Zambia. THE Lusaka City Council has observed that it has recorded high number of deaths after the authority issued 610 burial permits in the past week.
LCC Public Health Director, Christopher Mtonga says the increase in the number of burials being conducted in the cemeteries follows the increase in Covid 19 deaths recorded.
Mr Mtonga lamented that the number is worrisome looking at the morality rate and that the local authority is considering engaging mourners to speed up process of burial.
“It’s not a good thing but it should be done in the quest for sanity and to reduced the spread of Covid at the burial permit issuance office or at the cemetery due to overcrowding” he said.
He observed that it has become a challenge to physically monitor all burials processions in the city but Council has dispatched Council Police and Health Inspectors to help regulate crowds at cemeteries.
Mr Mtonga said LCC is in talks with neighboring districts to help secure land for burials following council decision to procure alternative land.
He said the council has continued to engage family members at a point of issue of burial permits on the need to observe the 5 golden rules even as they mourn their loved ones.
This is according to statement issued by council public relations officer Lupikisha Emmanuel.
