Govt in no hurry to relax wearing of face masks

Talent Gore
The GOVERNMENT says it is in “no hurry” to relax the mandatory wearing of face masks despite a decline in new Covid-19 infections in the country.

Government introduced mandatory wearing of face masks in May 2020, at the height of the first wave of the pandemic.

Neighbours Botswana and South Africa have since lifted the mandatory wearing of face masks.

National Covid-19 Taskforce chief coordinator, Dr Agnes Mahomva said the Government was closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation.

“Yes, the numbers are going down and we are so proud as a country that we are doing exceptionally well than other countries in the region and even globally,” she said.

“Despite various challenges, we remained focused. T

“This is one of the main reasons we will not be so quick to relax some of the measures to protect people. We are just coming out of winter, but we are keeping our eye on it to see that we are completely out of it before we review and decide what we need to do with face masks.

“We are giving it a few weeks.”

She said with schools closing, there was no need to hurry and remove the face mask mandate, as the country was still in the winter season, where respiratory infections are common.

“Law enforcement agents are still enforcing proper wearing of masks, and as long as we are recording cases of Covid-19, masks are necessary. It is not about what other countries are doing, but it is about what we are seeing on the ground,” said Dr Mahomva.