The government has attributed the slight increase in Covid-19 cases recorded in the country in the past week to boarding schools in some provinces.
As of 27 September 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 129 919, with 122 446 recoveries and 4 607 deaths. The recovery rate stood at 94 percent, with 99 percent of cases being attributable to local transmission while active cases stood at 2 772.
“This week the number of cases recorded went up to 3356,” said Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, during a post-cabinet briefing Tuesday.
“The cases increased slightly, with 1687 cases recorded during the week under consideration, compared to 1669, the previous week.”
She said the provinces that recorded the most significant number of new cases include Masvingo (450); Mashonaland East Province (261); Matabeleland North (216); Manicaland (193); Midlands (190) and Mashonaland Central (145).
“It is apparent that Mashonaland East; Midlands; Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces are experiencing a resurgence of Covid-19 spurred by the cases in boarding schools,” decried Mutsvangwa.
“The majority of the cases were mild and asymptomatic without the need for hospitalisation and are being managed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The Ministries of Health and Child Care, and Primary and Secondary Education continue to implement the standard guidelines for the Coordinated Prevention and Management of Covid-19 at learning institutions while strengthening measures to ensure continuous teaching and learning during isolation or quarantine.”
Meanwhile, Mutsvangwa said there will be no half term breaks at schools in order to compensate for the time lost during the lockdown.
“The nation is informed that the Cabinet directed that half term breaks be prohibited in order to help learners catch up on time already lost during the lockdown and this will also strengthen Covid-19 containment measures,” she added.
