Mbabane: Over the next two weeks the government will come to the rescue of 300 000 people in 63 000 households across the four regions of the country. This was revealed by the Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini during a press conference at the Cabinet offices on April 22.
The PM said government will provide food assistance to the most vulnerable of society that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While necessary, the partial lockdown has come with dire consequences for the economy and, more particularly, for the most vulnerable of Eswatini society. For some Emaswati who were already struggling to have a frequent supply of food, this calamity has exacerbated their daily struggles for adequate meals.
Adapt
The PM mentioned that all Emaswati are learning on the go and as a result, now and again, government will review the extended partial lockdown to adjust to the situation on the ground at any particular time.
He said they are aware of the negative effects of COVID 19 hence they will adapt and respond effectively to preserve the lives of Emaswati.
“We all have to take full responsibility of our lives and that of our families, communities and country. I appeal to parents to lead by example and stay at home. No child, and certainly no adult, should roam out of the precinct of their home for any reason beyond seeking food or medical attention,” said the PM.
The PM said government is determined to pursue relevant and practical avenues to dampen the economic and social impact of the partial lockdown in the midst of the pandemic, and the Ministry of Health continues to study the spread and effects of the novel virus across the country.
“We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with COVID 19 lack symptoms and that even those who eventually develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms,” said the PM.
He said it means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity – for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing – even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. The premier added that in light of this new evidence, government recommends wearing masks or cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. It is of critical importance to emphasize that maintaining social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.
The Ministry of Health additionally advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
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