By NATION REPORTER
ABOUT 283 premises have been closed in the last 24 hours for defying Government directives against Covid-19 while 153 were served with notices of improvement, the Ministry of Health has announced.
The ministry also announced that the country has received US$13, 600 from the United Arab Emirates to assist in the fight against the pandemic.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Malama, said in the last 24 hours 1, 778 premises were inspected.
Dr Malama said in a statement that the overall compliance rate was 75 percent.
He however said 283 premises had been closed while 153 were served with notices of improvement.
Dr Malama said actions to be taken against those found not in compliance included court summons, revocation of licences and penalties.
He called on the public to frown upon those who continue flouting the directives with impunity.
“Our teams across the provinces continue to carry out legal enforcement of the enhanced measures to curb further transmission. Among the premises inspected include schools, churches, shopping malls, bars and nightclubs,” Dr Malama said.
He also said the ministry had continued to receive various support from different stakeholders in the Covid-19 response and in creating resilience in the health care system.
He said apart from the US$13, 600 received from the UAE, USAID had approved support towards the recruitment of short-term staff to support the response.
Dr Malama said the support included extension of support for the current staff for another three months, contracts for the 60 nurses already recruited; and new three months contracts for 270 registered nurses, 60 doctors, 30 biomedical engineering technicians, 30 environmental health technologists and 15 biomedical scientists.
“This will improve case management and diagnostics,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Malama said the country recorded 47 Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours.
He added that 940 new cases were recorded out of the 5, 166 tests conducted, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date to 175, 729.
