COVID FATIGUE?

THAT the country has recorded a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the last few days, though alarming should actually spur the nation into stepping up awareness campaigns against the pandemic.

This surge has been attributed to laxity among the general population towards the health guidelines from the Ministry of Health.

The sense of urgency with which the awareness programme started when the coronavirus pandemic first hit the country about three months ago has disappeared.

True, the Ministry of Health, which must be commended for the wonderful work it has been doing, has not relented in its awareness drive.

But it is the general public that has almost turned a deaf ear to the constant warnings and advice on how to protect oneself – washing hands constantly, masking up in public and maintaining social distance.

This unfortunate development was highlighted on Tuesday during a national update on the Covid-19 situation by Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya

He said the increase in the number of cases has been triggered by laxity on the public to adhere to public health and social guidelines. As at Tuesday, the country had 324 new cases recorded with 18 Covid-related deaths.

Said Dr Chilufya: “Zambia has in the last 11 days recorded a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases and Covid-related deaths, recording a total of 324 cases and 18 Covid-related deaths, 14 of which have been brought in dead (BID). Lusaka district is back as a hotspot, recording an increased number of cases in the last 11 days.

“However, geographic spread nationally has been noted. Cumulatively in the last 11 days, we have recorded 1895 cases with a total of 18 deaths. This brings the number of deaths cumulatively to 48 while we have recorded a total of 1412 recoveries from the time the pandemic started,” Dr. Chilufya said.

It is not a surprise that Lusaka as a district has reclaimed its unenvied reputation as a hotspot.

Lusaka has exhibited the worst behaviour in so far as combatting Covid-19 is concerned. Public and overcrowded places like City Market, Kulima Tower no longer has hand sanitisers and water at entry points where one could wash and sanitise their hands.

The “vigilantes” at Kulima Tower who in the early days ensured all passengers wore face masks are fatigued and everything is back to the “old normal.”

Only shopping malls and shops have maintained the “new normal” by ensuring that people entering their premises have their masks on as well as sanitising their hands.

As Dr Chilufya noted, “less people are wearing masks in public today and less public places are enforcing public health and social measures including mandatory handwashing and people are gathering in public place such as restaurants and markets without adhering to public and social measures.”

People ought to realise that stemming the spread of Covid-19 requires their input. The Health authorities can only go as far as advising them to take preventive measures. Heeding those preventive measures rests on their shoulders.

Just a few weeks ago, South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize complained that South Africans seem to be becoming fatigued and letting their guards down at a time when Covid-19 infections are expected to surge.

“We see poor or no social distancing in communities. Masks are being abandoned or not worn properly and there is laxity setting in around frequent hand-washing,” Mkhize said.

If anything, Zambians have been lucky that masking up in public, though compulsory has not been enforced much by the police.

But maybe it was time that a bit of force was used by having a few people rounded up for not wearing face masks in public. That would serve as an example and jolt people back to their senses, that Covid-19 is very much around.