The ManicaPost
WHILE more than 13 million people have been infected by Covid-19 worldwide since it emerged last year in December, Zimbabwe’s confirmed cases have been steadily increasing, with the number standing at 1 089 as of Wednesday, including 395 recoveries and 20 deaths.
Zimbabwe has been receiving some of its citizens who were in various countries. It is unfortunate that a defiant section of these returnees have been escaping from quarantine centres, thereby exposing their families and the country at large to the virus.
With Zimbabwe having eased its lockdown to Level Two to allow industry to keep rolling, more and more cases of local transmission are being recorded on a daily basis and fears abound that the virus is now spreading more swiftly.
However, while the Covid-19 cases are now increasing at an increasing rate, some people seem unfazed. They still have their guard down.
Most people continue to go about their business without a care in the world.
At funerals, hugs and handshakes continue to be exchanged generously, with the need for physical distancing being casually dismissed.
People continue to ignore the need for physical distancing as they queue at banks for cash withdrawals.
Then there are supermarkets where panicky shoppers are spending considerable time in queues hoarding household goods.
In addition, vegetable markets across the province continue to be hives of activity.
With some people still working from home, it seems as if the multitudes have simply been redirected to the long winding queues, the informal markets and the social gatherings.
Some are even taking the time off work to visit their friends and relatives.
While the Government and the health practitioners are concerned about the health of Zimbabwean people, are we in earnest concerned about our own health?
It seems like the majority are not.
Yet if there was ever a time to reinforce our commitment to safeguarding public health, the time is now. Religiously following the Covid-19 prevention guidelines is the only way to stop the spread of the virus.
When a group of more than 50 people congregate for whatever reason — a business meeting, funeral, wedding or to access maize-meal — they are not only cheating themselves, they are also cheating the whole country.
In the event that one of them is infected with the virus, it is highly likely that the virus will spread across that whole group, before spreading to their contacts dotted across the country.
When beer halls continue to operate clandestinely despite the President’s ban, or imbibers decide to quench their thirst for wise waters at the sprouting shebeens, they are not only putting their own health at risk, but that of Zimbabwe and ultimately that of the whole world.
Voluntary physical distancing, good hygienic practices, avoiding crowds, working remotely, and joining online religious services have been at the centre of the virus’ containment across the world.
This has seen most Asian countries, particularly South Korea, getting the virus under control.
These are decisions that are supposed to be made and implemented at a personal level for the benefit of the entire country.
It is supposed to be our basic and social responsibility on a personal level to observe the quarantine period when we are supposed to do so, to keep our distance when we are in public, and to stay at home whenever possible.
The police should not have to force us to wear face masks, observe physical distancing and avoid crowded places.
