Zivanai Dhewa
…As the country hastens the vaccination programme
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has today called upon citizens to ensure that they get vaccinated in order to reach the country’s herd immunity as the country continues to fight against Covid19 and its different variants.
The President made the sentiments while informing the nation to start operating under Level 4 Covid19 lockdown regulations with immediate effect. This follows the continued intensification of the Alpha and Delta Covid19 variants across the country. The Delta variant was first identified in India, the mutations in it make it replicate faster and is 60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant.
Speaking through a statement President Mnangagwa explained the reasons the country had to enter into level 4 lockdown.
“Level 4 enhanced lockdown measures which take immediate effect, will run for a duration of two weeks and will be reviewed thereafter,” said President Mnangagwa.
Meanwhile, Covid19 vaccinations are being hastened to allow those who had not received their doses to do so to be able to fight the virus in the event of an infection.
“A Covid19 vaccination blitz will be rolled out in the border towns and cities, tobacco auction floors, grain marketing depots, cotton marketing depots, major construction sites, people’s markets such as Renkini and Mbare, and all hot spots.
“Ministers and Parliamentarians will be dispatched to their Constituencies to disseminate information especially on the vaccination programme,” the President said.
Advising on the operations of business, President Mnangagwa said, “Commerce and Industry are to open from 0800hrs to 1530 hours, in compliance with a general curfew running from 1830 hours to 0600 hours.
“Industry is to decongest work places to 40% of manning levels, with the rest of the workers working from home. All companies are directed to observe all the Covid19 World Health Organisation Protocols at the work place,” said the President.
The Lockdown prohibits Movements while making sure that travellers from countries with Alpha and Delta Covid19 variants are quarantined on arrival. The President further stressed on the need for law enforcement agents to lookout for people who use fake Covid19 certificates and place them under custodial sentences. Zimbabweans who find themselves deported will be quarantined in identified places.
As at 28 June 2021, the country’s Covid19 update reports that the country had 47 284 confirmed cases, including 37 949 recoveries and 1749 deaths. To date, a total of 764 248 people have been vaccinated against Covid19. People are advised to continue observing the WHO Protocols, as well as embracing the free vaccination programme availed by Government.
