Zambian government shuts pubs for 2 weeks

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Zambian has shut down all pubs, nightclubs and casinos with immediate effect for ignoring COVID-19 guidelines and operating outside stipulated hours.

Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Matthew Ngulube said the facilities would only operate on a takeaway basis.

Speaking at a news conference in the capital Lusaka on Monday, Ngulube said the closures are subject to a review in 14 days.

The decision to close the premises comes after local authorities conducted spot checks on compliance but found most entities failing.

Speaking alongside him, Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja warned members of the public and business entities in the habit of breaking the law with respect to the COVID-19 regulations.

Kanganja directed his regional police command commissioners to ensure that they partnered with local authorities in conducting patrols at markets and bus stations, which are super spreader sites.

Health Ministry Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama also appeared at the same news conference and announced 69 new COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours.

This brought the country’s cumulative death toll to 2,091.

Malama also reported 1,093 new confirmed COVID-19 cases from 5,762 tests conducted.

This brought the nation’s tally to 149,661.

He said 3,604 recoveries had also been recorded in the same period, taking the total 126,441.

Out of 21,129 active cases, 19,777 were under community care and 1,352 under isolation facilities.

Of these, Malama said, 917 were on oxygen, with 195 in critical condition.

Of the eligible Zambians, 273,919 have so far been inoculated with the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca jab, while 6,215 have received the Sinopharm vaccine.