In view of the global pandemic of Corona Virus outbreak, the virus was first reported in China Wuhan last year 2019, since then it has grown and resulted to the deaths of thousands. In March the first case was reported in the country and more cases have been found. The Matsapha Town is a high-risk area due to the high population coming into the town for work purposes and others come for trade purposes. The municipality itself is at risks as it receives quite a number of customers and visitors in the Civic Centre on a daily basis.
In response to the global effects that are reported daily on the virus, as the local authority, Council has strategized on measures to try counter the Coronavirus outbreak. The Council’s prime concern is to make sure that the public and its staff are protected from the coronavirus outbreak.
Once the coronavirus was declared a national disaster on the 17th of March 2020, Council had already hit the ground running to inspect around the town to ensure that businesses were complying with the safety standards or procedures that are communicated by the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation (WHO).
The first response Council identified High risk workplaces and conducted inspections in these sites. The inspectors found that a number of companies had tried to comply with the WHO standards, by handwashing or sanitizing people at the entry points and some even had the temperature test gun available. The companies that were not complying were then sensitized on the best ways to ensure that they fully comply with the safety procedures.
Council also visited public transport operators considering the number of people that utilize the service, they were identified as another high risk. The operators were engaged on the importance of hand washing and/ or sanitizing the public before boarding the vehicles. Other sensitization measures have been made to raise awareness to the public.
Council would like to urge the public to comply with the Government and WHO as information is issued regularly to ensure the nations safety. Council will also have they ranger function monitoring the town to make sure that the public fully complies especially during the lockdown which will take place as of today Friday 27th March 2020.
