New COVID Variant XBB.15, capable to fuel another wave.

During the course of the COVID pandemic, most companies’ concern has been for the safety and health
of their employees. From 2020 till date, we have seen companies in many different sectors negatively
affected by the COVID-19 socio-economic havoc. Like other industries, telecommunication companies
are switching their offices to working remotely at home. The benefits from data traffic and high mobile
usage during the pandemic are partly used to support employees working from home, such as providing
computer equipment and a reliable power supply.
With just 12 days into 2023, Zambia has detected the COVID variant, XBB.15, which is said to be more
transmissible. This news is likely to cause a challenge in the industry, especially in rolling out the 5G
and fibre network because of restrictions that are likely to be imposed on the movement of
telecommunication engineers to the field and the system environment.
In reacting to the same, the Zambia Ministry of Health has placed its’ surveillance personnel on high
alert following the increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths across the country. Health Minister SYLVIA
MASEBO has attributed the rise of COVID-19 cases to a new sub-variant of the omicron Coronavirus
called XBB.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka on 12th January 2023, Ms. MASEBO expressed worry about the
rising positivity rate in the provinces. She urged citizens to be on guard against the disease.
https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/covid-19-cases-on-the-increase/