Chongwe mayor, Geoffrey Chumbwe
The Chongwe municipal council in Lusaka province has started re-enforcing the COVID-19 preventive measures in all public places in the district.
Chongwe mayor, Geoffrey Chumbwe says the authority has noted that people are not adhering to the guidelines.
Mr Chumbwe told ZANIS during an interview in Chongwe, that everyone should play a role in the prevention of any further spread of the deadly virus in the area by complying with COVID-19 guidelines.
“People in Chongwe are not observing the social distance rule and have become reluctant to wear face masks in public places despite being sensitised about how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus,” Mr Chumbwe complained.
He said the council will not allow people to abrogate COVID-19 preventive measures in public places and has since enhanced operations to ensure that the measures are upheld by all residents.
“I urge all residents to take coronavirus seriously, adding that the increasing number of people who are testing positive is alarming,” the Mayor added.
Meanwhile, Chongwe district COVID-19 task force Chairperson Wamulume Aongola, who led a team of officers on an operation at Chongwe main market to enforce the wearing of face masks by traders and people buying commodities at the facility, said the local authority will not permit people to enter the market without wearing masks.
Mr Aongola said most people who are found at markets in Chongwe are not wearing masks and opt to carry them in the pockets or handbags.
“We have observed that people in crowded places such as markets do have masks, but they are not wearing them despite knowing the risk of not doing so as regards to COVID-19. We will not allow people to walk around in such premises without face masks because we do not want to record more cases in the district,” Mr.Aongola said.
He said council officers will also continue sensitising people in all public places on the importance of adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
– ZANIS.
