Times Of Swaziland: STRICT PARTIAL LOCKDOWN FOR ESWATINI

STRICT PARTIAL LOCKDOWN FOR ESWATINI
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 BY SIBONGILE SUKATI on 08/01/2021 01:29:00


MBABANE – Eswatini is once again under strict partial lockdown following the
announcement of several restrictions yesterday.
For the next two weeks, all gatherings of any sort in the country have been
banned, regardless of the size.
The only gathering allowed will be of funerals, even then only a maximum number
of 50 people will be allowed to attend.
The new changes were announced by the Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, who
reported that government, through the sustained counsel of Their Majesties, had
taken the decision to strengthen the partial lockdown restrictions to disrupt
the spread of the coronavirus.
The revised regulations are with effect from midnight today (Friday, January 8,
2020).
Although burial gatherings are permitted, the acting PM put it clear that
memorial services were strictly prohibited while the funerals were limited to
two hours.
Masuku further stated that those who had passed on should be buried as soon as
possible, preferably within three days.
Changes
The acting premier, when interviewed after announcing the new changes, made it
clear that even church gatherings were not allowed and advised all to hold
virtual services.
He said though he was a Christian, the pandemic was serious and in jest said it
was also difficult to sing while wearing a mask.
Masuku said physical meetings, when absolutely necessary, would only be for
first line responders such as health workers or security officers directly
involved in the fight against COVID-19.
He said these physical meetings would only be limited to 20 people (first line
responders) beyond which only virtual meetings would be allowed. Masuku said
although the new restrictions would more likely be reviewed within 14 days, it
did not mean that government could not make changes earlier if the situation
changed.
Monitor
“We will monitor the situation if stronger measures need to be taken, we will
do just that, but if we can relax same, we will also follow suit,” said
Masuku.
Other changes which are expected to take place include the reduction of the
number of passengers who can be carried in public transport vehicles as Masuku
stated that these would not be allowed to carry passengers at full capacity.
Instead, Masuku announced that all vehicles would be allowed to only carry 80
per cent their capacity and this also applied to those that were
privately-owned.
The retail sector has not been spared as government announced that all shops
should be closed by at least 6pm while liquor traders will only be allowed to
operate from Monday to Thursday at shorter trading hours; being 11am until 4pm.
Just when emaSwati were dusting their passports to start travelling again,
government has also put a stop to unnecessary trips to neighbouring countries
save for people seeking medical attention, schooling, work and business
purposes.
Masuku made it clear that border officials would carefully scrutinise all
documentation to ascertain that the new directives were adhered to.
Meanwhile, the acting premier said since the beginning of December 2020,
Eswatini had experienced a huge surge in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases
and related deaths.
“We have recorded 139 deaths over the period and 4 120 new infections,” said
Masuku.
He said as the second wave persisted to peak, more people were presenting with
symptoms categorised by rapid deterioration in clinical condition.
“Evidently, we are at the belly of the beast and decisive action needs to be
taken to save lives and to ease the pressure on our health system,” said
Masuku.
He stated that everyone needed to clearly understand that the COVID-19 pandemic
was aggressively challenging the nation’s survivability.
He reminded emaSwati and all residents that the core mandate of the government
under the Tinkhundla System of Governance included, though not limited, to
inclusive nation building, promoting and protecting the health of nationals and
the promotion and protection of the economy.
He said the new restrictions were in compliance with Regulation 51 of the
COVID-19 Regulations 2020, which allowed the amendment of regulations after
consultations with ministers responsible for a particular sector.