Manzini City Continues Fight Against COVID-19
together with NDMA, Regional Disaster Task Team, Municipality embarks on half day disinfection of business premises, public spaces
As promised at the start of the ongoing Covid-19 partial lockdown, the Municipal Council of Manzini has continued to engage in regular disinfection of high risk parts of the city as part of a broader effort to flatten the curve in the Hub of Eswatini. In the wake of soaring Covid-19 statistics in the country, the Municipality, together with the Manzini Region Disaster Task Team and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) last Sunday embarked on a citywide disinfection exercise as a means to suppress the spread of the coronavirus in the city and surrounding areas. The exercise, which was led by the head of the region, Regional Administrator Chief Gija, lasted half the day. It focused on business premises as well as high human volume public spaces. Areas that were covered included the Riverstone Mall, Manzini Bus Rank, Manzini Market, President Centre shopping complex and vending stalls, King Somhlolo Park, KaKhoza shops and vending stalls, Mkhiweni/KaShali shops and vending sites, The Xchange Lounge and Shisanyama, Thursday Market traders’ temporary accommodation facilities, The Vibe carwash and shisanyama, various shop premises in Zakhele and Two Sticks, Ludwala shopping complex and vending stalls, Bhunu Mall, Manzini Mall, the new Dubai Mall passageway, The Hub, Magistrates Court and the Regional Administration offices.
…BE RESPONSIBLE, PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM COVID-19
Amidst the rising statistics of Covid-19 positive people in the country, Manzini Municipality encourages citizens to continue practising good hygiene practices as advised by the World Health Organisation and the country’s Ministry of Health. It is important that everyone continues practising the following;
- Wear a mask at all times as soon as you step out of your home
- Avoid groups of people and crowded spaces
- Maintain physical distance of at least one metre from other people, especially from those who are sick
- Clean your hands frequently using either soap and running water or 70% alcohol-based hand sanitiser
- Cover your nose and mouth with a bent elbow or paper tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of the tissue and clean your hands immediately after use
- Refrain from touching your mouth, nose, and eyes
…HOW TO KEEP HEALTHY DURING COVID-19
The World Health Organisation shares a number of health tips during the period of Covid-19;
- REGULAR ROUTINE
Keep to your regular routines as much as possible and maintain a daily schedule for yourself including sleeping, meals and activities.
- STAY SOCIALLY CONNECTED
Stay socially connected. Speak to loved ones and people you trust every day or as much as possible, using the telephone, video-calls or messaging, through writing letters, etc. Use this time to share your feelings and to do common hobbies together.
- BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
Be physically active every day. Reduce long periods of sitting and set up a daily routine that includes at least 30 minutes of exercise. Make sure to do activities that are safe and appropriate for your level of physical fitness as indicated by your health-care worker. You can use household chores as a way to keep physically active or choose your favourite music and dance to that.
- DRINK WATER, EAT HEALTHY
Drink water and eat healthy and well-balanced meals. This will keep you hydrated, help strengthen your immune system and lower the risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases.
- AVOID SMOKING, DRINKING ALCOHOL
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 because smoking can affect lung capacity and because the act of smoking increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth. Drinking alcohol not only disturbs your sleep but may also increase your risk of falls, weaken your immune system. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink or don’t drink alcohol at all.
