By Scoop Reporter
COMPLIANCE to preventive measures against COVID-19 such as social distancing, wearing face masks, frequent watching of hands and sanitizing was at its highest back in April and first half of May but have fizzled out, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR) has said.
JCTR Executive Director, Alex Muyebe says most people have observed that compliance to preventive measures has never been the same again since then.
Father Muyebe says it is worrying that laxity on COVID-19 preventive measures in Zambia has come at a time when community transmission is steadily increasing and that it is evident that people in the communities have prematurely dropped the guard.
“For instance, it is common these days to see large crowds of people in the communities moving up and about without wearing face masks. Of great concern is the laxity on COVID-19 preventive measures in markets, bus stations, and in public service vehicles. This is a recipe for disaster.
“We risk being overrun by the pandemic which is silently infiltrating our communities.
Another great concern is that of late we have seen non-compliance to COVID-19 preventive measures by party cadres such as those that recently stormed the Magistrate’s Court in Lusaka in support of the Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya when he first appeared before the court to take plea.
“We have also witnessed some large crowds ignoring COVID-19 preventive measures at some recent events by the Head of State in Mazabuka and in the Western Province.
As cases of COVID-19 in Zambia escalate, some institutions have had some offices closed down temporarily due to one or more of their staff having tested positive for COVID-19 in the offices in question,” Fr. Muyebe said.
