President Edgar Lungu has directed Minister of Finance Dr Bwalya Ng’andu to ensure that the modalities of accessing the K10 billion recently released by the Bank of Zambia are adequately communicated.

Addressing the nation this afternoon, President Lungu said he was aware that the modalities of disbursement have not been adequately communicated to the would-be beneficiaries such as schools, restaurants, bars, night clubs, gyms and Casinos.

“I am aware that the modalities of disbursement of the 10 billion Kwacha under the Bank of Zambia have not been adequately communicated to the would-be beneficiaries. I am therefore directing the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the modalities are urgently communicated and the collateral demanded are realistic,” President Lungu said.

And the Head of State disclosed that Zambia has recorded 14 new cases of Covid-19 from the 683 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 167.

“The cases comprise six truck drivers tested in Chirundu, 2 health care workers in Lusaka and Kabwe, 1 contact to a positive case, 1 from routine screening at Ndola Central Hospital, 3 patients from routine health facility screening, 1 Tanzanian screened in Chililabombwe,” he stated.

He added that 109 people have fully recovered and have been discharged from the isolation facilities.

President Lungu observed that the pandemic in Zambia is relatively different from what other nations are experiencing where their infection and death rate have been much higher, hence the need to embrace the New Normal stating that the impact of the COVID-19 may plunge the economy in a way never seen before.

“However, these nations that have been hardest hit by the pandemic and are still struggling, have begun to open up their socio-economic environment in the context of the new normal; living with Covid-19” he stated.

President Lungu directed that restaurants can revert to their normal operations while adhering to the set health guidelines and has further reopened Casinos, Gyms, and Cinemas.

“Bars and taverns remain closed and they may be considered for opening depending on how the measures announced today will go in next 7-14 days,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Head of State has announced the reopening of Examination classes at Primary and Secondary levels effective 1st June 2020 while adhering to public health regulations.

He said he was concerned that if schools remain closed, it may lead to moral decay and education crisis in the country.

President Lungu further urged the Ministries of General and Higher Education to engage stakeholders and plan how other classes, colleges and universities can reopen in the near future.