Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. By Robert Tapfumaneyi – GOVERNMENT has decreed a slash in local business hours, working personnel per building and further banned public gatherings in its latest bid to tame a renewed surge in Covid-19 cases.
Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga Saturday said cases have been on the rise past few days.
He attributed the increase to general complacency among locals in adhering to measures both in the communities and workplaces.
In the last seven days, 596 new cases and 26 deaths were recorded, compared to the same period in May 2021 where 132 new cases and 6 deaths were recorded.
“This is a more than 4-fold increase in new cases and deaths,” Chiwenga told journalists Saturday evening.
Chiwenga said retail businesses and shops’ operating hours shall be from 0800 hours to 1800 hours every day with operators expected to ensure “strict adherence to preventive measures such as proper wearing of face masks, sanitizing and temperature checks of clients.”
“They should also ensure that they limit the number of clients in their shops to maintain physical distancing.
“Beer halls and night clubs will remain closed whilst bottle stores will operate from 1000 hours – 1600 hours.
“Operators should ensure that there is no drinking in and around their premises. Failure to adhere to these measures will result in withdrawal of business licenses.
“Hotel and lodge bars and restaurants are open to their residents up to 2200 hours. All other restaurants and fast foods outlets will serve takeaways only.”
Chiwenga added, “With regards to people’s marketplaces such as but not limited to Mbare, Renkin, Mupedzanhamo, Sakubva, Machipisa and others, they shall close at 1800 hours.”
The VP further said, “at all ports of entry there shall be strict enforcement of the 48 hour old PCR negative certificate requirement and mandatory testing of all travellers from hot spots at their expense regardless of their negative PCR certificates”.
“There shall be quarantining of those coming from hot spots in designated quarantine centres at their own expense.
“Those who present with fake Covid 19 negative certificates shall be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND MINISTER OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE: 12 JUNE 2021
MEASURES TO CURB THE SURGE OF COVID-19
– mandatory wearing of masks in public places.
– maintaining social and physical distancing
– washing or sanitising your hands frequently
3) Government will strengthen testing and contact tracing as well as quarantining contacts and isolating confirmed cases.
4) Regarding public transport, the operators are to adhere to recommended passenger numbers. They should ensure that all passengers are wearing their face masks properly. On boarding they must have their temperature checked and their hands sanitized. Public transport operators shall disinfect their vehicles after every trip.
5) With regards to gatherings, the following measures are to be implemented.
All gatherings except funerals are banned. These gatherings include but are not limited to weddings, church gatherings, music festivals and sports activities.
Funerals shall be limited to 30 people. All Covid 19 funerals will be supervised by health personnel.
All workshops and meetings are to be held virtually. In addition, all offices, both government and private, are to decongest by 50% (except for offices connected with essential services)
6) With regards to retail businesses and shops, their operating hours shall be from 0800 hours to 1800 hours. It is expected that the operators ensure that there is strict adherence to preventive measures such as proper wearing of face masks, sanitizing and temperature checks of clients. They should also ensure that they limit the number of clients in their shops to maintain physical distancing.
Beer halls and night clubs will remain closed whilst bottle stores will operate from 1000 hours – 1600 hours. Operators should ensure that there is no drinking in and around their premises. Failure to adhere to these measures will result in withdrawal of business licenses.
Hotel and lodge bars and restaurants are open to their residents up to 2200 hours. All other restaurants and fast foods outlets will serve takeaways only.
7) With regards to people’s market places such as but not limited to Mbare, Renkin, Mupedzanhamo, Sakubva, Machipisa and others, they shall close at 1800 hours. The operators shall ensure strict adherence to preventive measures such as proper wearing of face masks, sanitizing, social distancing and temperature checks of their clients. Non-compliance will result in closure of that market.
Our health inspectors and other law enforcement agents will move around and monitor compliance to these measures. Failure to adhere to these measures will result in withdrawal of the business licenses.
8) With regards to tobacco auction floors, the owners must ensure strict adherence to preventive measures such as proper wearing of face masks, temperature checks and sanitizing of clients and maintaining physical distancing. Each consignment of tobacco bales to be accompanied by at most 2 people into the auction floor. Targeted vaccination of tobacco farmers and their workers will be available.
Tobacco auction floor employees are required to have a negative Covid 19 PCR or rapid antigen test which will be valid for 2 weeks. Vending within and around the tobacco floors is prohibited.
Our health inspectors and other law enforcement agencies shall be monitoring for compliance. Failure to adhere to these measures will result in closure of that particular auction floor.
9) At all ports of entry there shall be strict enforcement of the 48 hour old PCR negative certificate requirement and mandatory testing of all travellers from hot spots at their expense regardless of their negative PCR certificates.
There shall be quarantining of those coming from hot spots in designated quarantine centres at their own expense. Those who present with fake Covid 19 negative certificates shall be arrested and prosecuted.
10) With regards to management of local hot spots, the following measures shall be implemented
Finally, I want to remind everyone to properly wear your face mask, sanitise, maintain physical and social distancing, and get vaccinated.
