Embrace ‘New Normal’

ZAMBIANS have no choice but to embrace the “new normal” in the face of the coronavirus outbreak by accepting that it may be here to stay. Going forward, it is obvious that life will not be as it used to in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak and the sooner Zambians come to terms with it, the better. In his televised national address on Friday, President Edgar Lungu announced easing of lockdown measures that would see the opening of examination classes, restaurants and casinos. However, the opening of the examination classes on June 1 and allowing restaurants to operate normally is subject to them adhering to the guidelines. The President’s directive was aimed at reopening some key social-economic sectors of the economy to save the economy from total collapse. But as President Lungu states, Zambians would have to adjust and learn to exist alongside Covid-19 as the case was with malaria and HIV/AIDS to allow citizens to continue eking out a living.   The directive to reopen examination classes and restaurants has been received with a sigh of relief and great relief among parents and pupils themselves. But the Presidential decision should not be misconstrued to mean the Covid-19 had been contained and as such teachers, pupils and restaurant owners should not become complacent in adhering to the public health measures. Covid-19 cases are still on the rise which simply means the battle against the pandemic is still on and it is incumbent on citizens to adhere to the “new normal” while the battle against the virus rages. Schools should ensure they always maintain high standards of hygiene. It won’t be easy as children are accustomed to certain behaviours but school authorities should see to it that pupils observe social distancing during their interactions, wear masks and sanitise their hands from time to time, among other measures, to prevent the spread of the virus. The same applies to restaurants, gyms and casinos as they resume operating. There should be no room for complacency as doing so could result in their being shut down. This is the last thing businesses need considering that people’s lives had been thrown in disarray because of the impact of Covid-19. It would therefore be unwise for school authorities and restaurant owners as well as the public not to backtrack on the adherence of the health guidelines two weeks after normalising their operations under the “new normal.” We say so because human beings by nature have a tendency to drop their guard and slip into their old habits after being consistent in the initial days. We are alive to the fact that the Presidential directive for restaurants to only operate on a take away basis came about, in part, after repeated calls for them to observe the health guidelines fell on deaf ears. This should not happen again! Already adherence to the guidelines has been problematic since the pandemic broke out in the country and one can only hope citizens will become more responsible under the “new normal” or the nation could experience an alarming spike in infections. With the country recording three more Covid-19 related deaths and an increase in coronavirus cases, it is crucial that citizens adhere to public health measures if they are going to manage to live under the “new normal.” Even as life gradually returns to normalcy under the “new normal” people must not become complacent. The Sun