The Swaziland (eSwatini) Ministry of Health announced
a new record of coronavirus cases in a single day just as schools in the
kingdom began to reopen and churches were told they could begin operating
again.
The number of cases has been steadily rising in recent
weeks. On Wednesday (8 July 2020) Minister
of Health Lizzie Nkosi reported there had been 82 positive cases in the
previous 24 hours bringing the total number of cases to 1,138. There have been
14 deaths.
The number of tests reported in the first eight days of
July was 3,306. Of these nearly 10 percent (326) tested positive. The total
population of Swaziland is about 1.3 million.
Schools across Swaziland began to reopen on Monday against
the advice of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) which said
it was unsafe to do so. SNAT
went to the Industrial Court on Tuesday to try to get the reopenings
halted. The case is continuing.
Already local media have reported cases of suspected
coronavirus (COVID-19) among pupils. One teacher
reportedly tested positive.
On Wednesday the Ministry of Home Affairs issued
regulations allowing churches to reopen with the maximum number of people
present being ‘the equivalent of 30 per cent of the total holding capacity’ of
the venue.
The entire Swazi
Cabinet of government ministers have been in isolation this week after one
of their number tested positive. They were expected to return to
work on Thursday after tests they undertook proved negative.
See also
Swaziland
Govt. halts food aid to many elderly people as coronavirus crisis grows
Swaziland
teachers go to court in bid to stop schools reopening during coronavirus crisis
Entire
Swaziland Cabinet in isolation after minister tests positive for coronavirus
No comments:
Post a Comment