adminFungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe last Saturday met all Mashonaland Central Province legislators to share information on coronavirus, apprise them on Government strategies and progress on the preparedness of the province.
Cde Kazembe, who is also a member of a 11-member inter-ministerial ad-hoc taskforce on tackling Covid-19 said as key stakeholders of the communities, legislators were expected to effectively drive awareness messages on Covid-19 in their respective constituencies.
Cde Kazembe said MPs played a critical role in society and it was important that they moved together with Government in the fight against Covid-19.
“The first message I kindly ask you to drive home is that coronavirus is real. Some people are taking it lightly and think the disease only attacks people in Harare. The disease attacks everyone and it has placed people on the same level,” he said.
Minister Kazembe said the province now had makeshift isolation centres in all districts while hospitals had set aside rooms for isolation of patients suspected of having the virus adding that it was critical to let people know that when they suspect having symptoms they should stay at home.
“There is toll free number, 2019 specifically for Covid-19 issues. In the event that the person starts moving, he or she will spread the virus. The idea is to minimise transmission.”
Cde Kazembe told the MPs that not everyone who has the disease needed to be hospitalised, as 80 percent of the people are managed at home with 15 percent being isolated and five percent needing the intensive care unit.
He said the lockdown was not a punishment but a strategy to minimise and avoid the spread of the disease.
Not everyone can afford sanitisers but washing hands with soap regularly should be a hygienic habit to manage the virus, he said.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter