Preparing for Covid-19 second wave

THE saying goes ‘to be forewarned is to be fore-armed’ and the Ministry of Health has made it very clear that Zambia, like many other countries, faces a possible second wave of Covid-19.Speaking at the Covid-19 update yesterday, Minister of Health Dr ChitaluChilufya explained that similar to the trend being experienced in other parts of the world, Zambia is expected to experience a second wave in December.While we are currently experiencing daily infection rates averaging below 50 across the country, it is expected that the numbers will go up.As at yesterday, the country had confirmed 16,415 Covid-19 cases with 349 Covid-19 related deaths.Currently, , 90 districts out of 119 have recorded cases of Covid-19 and it is therefore imperative that every bodu plays their part in remaining conscious of the virus threat.The best defence that we have against the spread of coronavirus is to mask up and practice hand hygiene.It is sad to know that despite public awareness campaigns on a daily basis since March, the general population is still remiss about wearing face masks and observing social distance in a bid to eradicate spread of the deadly virus.A cloth mask is intended to trap droplets that are released when the wearer talks, coughs or sneezes.According to the Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) wearing cloth mask can help reduce the spread of the virus by people who have COVID-19 but don’t realise it.Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus when they are widely used by people in public settings. And countries that required face masks, testing, isolation and social distancing early in the pandemic have successfully slowed the spread of the virus.While surgical and N95 masks may be in short supply and should be reserved for health care providers, cloth face coverings and masks are easy to find or make, and can be washed and reused.Masks can be made from common materials, such as sheets made of tightly woven cotton. Instructions are easy to find online. Cloth masks should include multiple layers of fabric.Why should adults be policed when the effects of Covid-19 are there for everyone to feel?The globe has been brought to its knees and larger economies have swiftly restored lock down measures because of the threat of heightened infections.We should not take it for granted that the current low numbers of fatalities downplay the debilitating effects of the coronavirus.Many recovering patients have talked about the long recovery process once infected with Covid-19.Many cases have to be well managed by medical personnel and this sees them working long hours and undertaking intensive screenings to ensure survival.It is therefore worrying that many citizens continue to ignore public health guidelines and the imminent threat is coming.Management of Covid-19 outside of Lusaka comes with its own complications.While we applaud Government for the proactive stance in Covid-19 preparedness, it is disheartening that we the citizenry continue to put our lives at risk and continue to ignore the looming disaster.Covid-19 can be fatal and is known to leave lingering effects on former patients such as heart problems and shortness of breath for prolonged periods.We need to be good citizens and kind neighbours by ensuring we comply to public health guidelines.Let us please improve our compliance, when in pubic wear a mask, observe social distance and remember to sanitise your hands to avoid possible transmission of Covid-19. The Sun