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Nqobile Bhebhe, Online Reporter

THE Bulawayo City Council has lifted the mandatory wearing of masks indoors at its workplaces as it awaits the announcement of the Covid-19 long-term strategy from the Government.

In May, Cabinet announced that all Covid-19 protocols including the mandatory wearing of face masks must be lifted as the country adopts the strategy on the long-term management of the covid-19 pandemic.

It was part of measures that the country has adopted in response to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO)’s declaration that Covid-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

According to the council’s latest report, the local authority has been reviewing workplace Covid-19 management protocols in line with Government pronouncements/statutory provisions since 2020.

“In view of the fore-going, and, in line with the latest Government announcement on the 9th of May 2023 Cabinet meeting which stated that: “As the nation may recall, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a statement indicating that Covid-19 no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Cabinet has directed as follows – that vaccination activities in all provinces should continue, with support from the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, and their teams that the mandatory wearing of face masks be lifted as the country adopts the strategy on the long-term management of the Covid-19 pandemic…”

“ It was hereby recommended that while Council waited for the announcement of the Covid-19 long-term strategy from the government and was cognisant of the fact that Covid-19 cases had continued to be reported the mandatory wearing of masks indoors be lifted forthwith at all municipal workplaces,” reads part of the report.

Council resolved that “the mandatory wearing of masks indoors be lifted forthwith at all municipal work places.”