National lockdown is the last option: Dr Chonzi

As more Covid-19 cases continue to be recorded in Zimbabwe in what seems to be a second wave, City of Harare Director of Health Services Dr Prosper Chonzi has urged the nation not to relax.
This comes as the country recorded 43 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday.
Speaking to Nhau, Dr Chonzi said people have become complacent and are living as if life is normal yet the pandemic is still raging across the world.
“People have relaxed and are no longer wearing masks and practicing social distancing in public places across the country, but there is need to continue taking precautionary measures if we are to survive Covid-19 as a nation,” he said
He said it is critical at this juncture because the pandemic might come as a mutation, which is more deadly and until a vaccine is availed there is need to protect each other as a nation.
Responding to Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive officer Dr Solwayo Ngwenya’s call to impose another lockdown, Dr Chonzi told Nhau that if the people of Zimbabwe take heed of the basics, there will be no need to take that direction.
“If the people of Zimbabwe listen there might be no need and that measure can be taken if there is continued resistance. After we have seen that there is no other solution then we might consider making a call for another national lockdown,” Dr Chonzi said.

Citing the over 90 percent recovery rate in Zimbabwe, many people have abandoned the Covid-19 prevention health protocols, which helped the country and many other African nations avoid a health catastrophe.
Zimbabwe has gone through a national lockdown, which crippled the day to day lives as well as businesses and the economy at large.
Government imposed lockdown measures on March 30 this year to curb the spread of the coronavirus. They had a negative impact on the country’s economy, education and public healthcare. Nhau/Indaba