Mbabane: In a new twist, as from Friday, April 24 the government will effect revised guidelines in line with the COVID 19 Regulations regarding certain business operations.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade will issue the guidelines tomorrow, April 23 during a press meeting at the Cabinet offices. This effectively means that some sections of the extended partial lockdown will be changed.
This was revealed by the Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini during a press conference at the Cabinet offices this morning, April 23.
Announcing the new developments the Prime Minister said, “After wide consultations, government has taken the decision to remove the relaxed measures of the partial lockdown with effect from Friday, April 24, 2020.” He added saying all the measures effected at the start of the partial lockdown on March 27 continue to be in full force.
The premier said following the pronouncement of a relaxed partial lockdown to balance the scales between protecting the lives of Emaswati and ensuring access to the balanced necessities of life in the wake of the devastating effect of the COVID -19, new information has emerged showing that positive cases have almost doubled from 16-31.
Over the week of the extended partial lockdown, Dlamini said government has observed with concern that complacency among the populace is creeping in, and an increasing number of people around the country are now casual and lack vigilance in prevention the transmission of the virus. Dlamini said the level of compliance to the measures which are aimed at curtailing the rapid spread of COVID-19 has dramatically dropped.
Tests
With the establishment of a local testing facility, a total of 1051 tests have been conducted in the kingdom – 31 testing positive, 20 on treatment, 10 recovered and 1 death. More than 62 000 have been screened for COVI-19 countrywide, said the PM.
The PM noted that the number of people leaving their homes and places of residence from non-essential services has spiked up, potentially exposing themselves and others to CIOVID-19. “It has almost become business as usual in our cities, town and communities yet the partial lockdown measures are still in force,” he said.
Measures effected at the start of the partial lockdown on March 27 include:
• Non-essential travels between communities, towns, cities and regions are strictly prohibited for all citizens.
• All public and private gatherings exceeding 20 or more people are prohibited
• Citizens and residents returning home from abroad will be quarantined for 14 days
• Visitation to hospitals is restricted
• Workers in non-essential services should work from home.
To ensure adherence of these regulations security forces will be enforcing compliance to these preventative measures to help the country buy more time to strengthen response and capacity to flatten the curve.
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