Chronicle Editor
ZIMBABWEANS should abide by the conditions that the Government set when it lifted the mandatory wearing of face masks for their own safety, and not out of fear of being arrested, the police said yesterday.
The Government last week Tuesday waived the mandatory wearing of face masks in public for those people who have received the three World Health Organisation recommended vaccines.
But they should still wear them in closed spaces and also carry their vaccination cards all the time for proof.
Following the announcement, most people have stopped wearing face masks including in public transport, despite statics indicating a low vaccination uptake since the Government started rolling out the programme two years ago.
The police have not been visible in enforcing the rule, despite most people being known to have received only two jabs, as statistics of those who got the third jab are disappointingly low.
Many Zimbabweans were reluctant to get vaccinated due to myths that were associated with the medicines. The high number of deaths during the first days spurred people to get jabbed, but as cases declined, the uptake also went down.
Also the myth that the coronavirus thrives under cold conditions has led many to believe that the approaching summer will take away the danger completely and as a result, the country risks experiencing a wave of new infections and deaths as citizens mistake the lull in cases since the winter season ended as sign that the disease has gone.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told New Ziana that enforcement of the rules that the Government set remained one of the top priorities for the law enforcement agents.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter