Times Of Swaziland: PUBLIC SERVICE CENTRES SUPERSPREADERS

PUBLIC SERVICE CENTRES SUPERSPREADERS
================================================================================
Phiwase Phungwayo on 07/01/2021 09:01:00


MBABANE – Public service centres are fast becoming superspreaders of the
coronavirus.
A superspreader is a person or place that transmits an infectious disease or
agent to an unusually large number of people. With the rising number of COVID-19
cases in the country, it has been gathered that most of the confirmed cases are
usually contacts of people who had gathered in public areas. Director of Health
Services in the Ministry of Health Dr Vusi Magagula said it was most likely that
people in large gatherings, especially those without enough ventilation,
transmitted the coronavirus. He sternly warned locals to stay at home as much as
they possibly could.
“If there is no need to go to public places, people should really stay home.
Public spaces have become superspreaders of the virus,” Dr Magagula said.
During a visit to one of the pharmacies in the capital city, it was witnessed
that the outlet was crammed as customers queued to buy various medication. It
was gathered that most of the customers had come to purchase flu medicine. A
pharmacist shared that products that were mostly bought were ACC 200, Benylin
and Zinc, among many cold and flu treatments.
Passports
Another visit to the Ministry of Home Affairs building saw large crowds of
people who required services such as processing of travel documents or passports
and identity cards. Shopping centres were also full of shoppers who were buying
groceries. It was noted that some retailers no longer sanitised trolleys or even
encouraged customers to observe social distancing.
Meanwhile, Manzini North Member of Parliament (MP) Macford Sibandze, who also
doubles as Chairperson for the Parliament COVID-19 Committee, was quoted by this
publication having mentioned that government should limit the drivers of super
spreaders. He said these were mobility, influx and gathering of people, and
care-free attitude after consumption of alcohol.