Zambia Limits Worship Time to Two Hours in Churches to Curb Cholera Spread

Churches in Zambia have been ordered to limit worship time to two hours as part of measures to curb the spread of cholera.

A senior official in charge of religious affairs, Nidiwa Mutelo, said there should be no sale of perishable and ready-to-eat foods in all churches.

Worshippers have also been urged to avoid handshakes and hugs to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

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Churches are now required to provide safe drinking water, designated hand washing points, and make available alcohol-based hand sanitizers to their congregants.

The urgency of these measures is underscored by the significant cholera outbreak in Zambia, with more than 7,800 reported cases since last October.

Over the past 24 hours alone, the health ministry has recorded over 400 new cases and 18 fatalities.

This latest intervention aims to mitigate the impact of the cholera epidemic, emphasizing the collective responsibility of religious institutions in safeguarding public health.