by Grace Chekai
Government is tightening security at the quarantine centres following reported cases of a large number of returnees who escaped from the centres.
Presenting at the 17th meeting decisions matrix, Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19, Honourable Vice President Kembo Mohadi said, “Meanwhile, security at quarantine centres is being tightened in order to ensure that those returning from abroad do not escape.
“Local traditional leaders and local authorities are enjoined to report known absconders and illegal returnees to authorities.”
Vice President Mohadi said that additional PCR testing equipment and materials would be purchased and that priority for testing would be given to quarantine centres and those who came into contact with positive cases.
He said funding for construction of border roads, procurement of drones and other related technical equipment in order to enable enforcement agents to effectively monitor, the country`s borders would be prioritised.
Vice President Mohadi also stressed that the country was still under lockdown and, as such, exemption letters for essential services were still required for movement of those concerned. He added that citizens should wear face masks in public and that it is an offence which is liable to a fine or imprisonment, for those who do not adhere to this requirement.
The deadly coronavirus continues to infect and claim lives globally.
To date, the country has 132 confirmed cases of COVID-19, a jump from 56 cases recorded on 24 May, 2020.
