Local businesses have been advised to buy rapid tests kits for themselves and arrange with designated testing facilities for their employees to be tested for COVID-19.
Under the national lockdown level 2 which came into effect this Monday, it is mandatory for businesses in the industry and commerce sectors to screen and test their employees before they resume operations.
In a statement, Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva reiterated that COVID-19 testing for workers is mandatory. She said:
As announced by His Excellency, President Cde E.D Mnangagwa the reopening of the industry and commerce during the lockdown extension effective 4 May 2020, is premised on the mandatory testing of employers and employees.
The Ministry has put in place the following plan to ensure immediate implementation of this policy; Designated public health facilities that conduct routine screening and medical examination for workers will now also conduct Covid-19 rapid testing.
To expedite the testing process, companies are encouraged to procure the rapid tests kits for themselves, guided by the Ministry in terms of test kits specification, employers must arrange with the designated testing facilities (public and private) for their employees to be tested at the agreed time at the facility or at the workplace.
Dr Mahomva also said the country remains with 34 positive Covid-19 cases including five recoveries and four deaths.
When a government is cash strapped, it passes its financial commitments to others, in this case, to an already constrained commerce and industry. Last week the President hired a jet from Dubai to fly to Moazambique. It has already been asked whether a face to face meeting was necessary? The EU, a much larger organisation than SADC and with more grave issues on its hands – including donations to the 3rd world- met by video-conferencing. This is only one example where world leaders have desisted from air travel. But let us suppose that the face to face meeting was an absolute necessity. Are there no Air Zimbabwe planes; could a plane not have been chartered from Charles Prince airport or from neihbour SA? How many test kits could have been purchased with the extra dollars spent by hirng from Dubai? ZANU-PF, a government for the people.