Zambia reopens international airports shut down due to COVID-19

25 Juin 2020

Lusaka, Zambia, June 25 (Infosplusgabon) – Zambian President Edgar Lungu has directed the immediate reopening of international airports closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Lungu, in his address to the nation on Thursday, however emphasised that bars and nightclubs will remain shut down.

The president said he was hopeful that the reopening of airports that were closed will reinvigorate the economy and steer growth.

International airports that were closed are Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula in the southern tourist town of Livingstone, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe in Ndola, northern Copperbelt Province, and Mfuwe in eastern Zambia.

“In the tourism sector as I stated in the last address, we also have to get back to work. I, therefore, announce the reopening of all international airports which were closed, immediately. Let me direct the Minister of Communication and Transport, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Tourism to work together in ensuring stringent health guidelines."

The president mentioned the guidelines as  screening; testing passengers with symptoms; masking; social distancing;  frequent washing of hands, and follow-up on passengers who test positive and sending them into quarantine until they test negative.

"The reopening of all international airports will trigger the recovery of the tourism sector not only in Livingstone but the country at large. We have to get back to work fully under the new normal,” Lungu stated.

President Lungu said bars and nightclubs will remain shut due to the current cold weather which has been known to aggravate the spread of COVID-19.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/OLK/GABON2020

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