By PETER SICHALI
GOVERNMENT should consider gradual lock-down of towns affected by Coronavirus, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) acting Spokesperson Yotam Mtayachalo has said.
Mr Mtayachalo said Government should place some areas on lock-down to avoid further spread of the diseases.
“Would like to appeal to the Government to urgently consider putting under lock down some towns which have so far recorded the COVID-19 for at least 14 days in order to curb the further spread of the virus,” Mr Mtayachalo said.
Mr Mtayachalo said government should also ensure that only essential goods and services were allowed to pass through the borders for the country to successfully contain COVID-19.
He said it was clear that the country could not copy with the volume of traffic coming into the country due to inadequate quarantine facilities, hence the need close some borders.
“What is obtaining in Livingstone and other border area is a clear indication that the country cannot cope with the volume of traffic coming into the country because of inadequate quarantine facilities,” he said.
Mr Mtayachalo said it was extremely worrying that the country had continued to report a steady rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.
This, he said, suggested that Zambia was not winning the battle against the pandemic, hence the need to take more radical measures.
“We are also alive to the fact that the country has a shortage of doctors and other health workers and it is in light of the foregoing that the Government should consider employing more health workers should the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
“More importantly Government should also ensure that test kits, drugs,vital medical equipment and preventive gear are made available to front line officers throughout the country if the war against the virus has to be won,” Mr Mtayachalo said.
Government, he said, should deploy the Zambia Army to help the police, public health departments to ensure that the measures to curb the spread of the virus were reinforced effectively.
And Mr Mtayachalo said it was disturbing that some individuals were disregarding health guidelines put in place by the Government.
Mr Mtayachalo appealed to Zambians to be responsible enough and cooperate with authorities in regard to COVID-19 guidelines as announced by the President.
FDD demands partial lockdown
