By Albert Nxumalo
Cabinet on Tuesday warned that the country risks being hit by a second wave of the global Coronavirus if citizens are “complacent in adhering to protective and preventive behaviour.”
As of Monday, 8303 cases had been recorded, 7797 recoveries and 236 deaths countrywide.
Bulawayo has of late started recording an increase in new Covid-19 cases and now has the highest number of active cases in the country.
Health officials in Bulawayo had raised concerns that residents were no longer fully complying with Covid -19 preventive measures such as wearing of face masks in public spaces.
The care-free attitude which is also reported in other parts of the country has prompted the government to warn of a second wave of infections in the country.
“Cabinet wishes to dispel the myth (Covid-19) is weak in warm temperatures and warns that the risks of a second wave of COVID-19 infections if citizens become complacent in adhering to protective and preventive behaviour,” said Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa in a post Cabinet statement.
Cabinet commended the recovery rate which currently stands at 94 %.
Mutsvangwa added,”Cabinet was informed that as at 23 October 2020, the country’s cumulative COVID-19 cases had increased to eight thousand two hundred and fifty-seven, (8 257) out of which six thousand eight hundred and forty-nine (6 849) cases were attributed to local transmission.
“Once again, Cabinet noted that there were seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-one (7771) recoveries, reflecting a 94 percent recovery rate, which is quite remarkable. The death toll now stands at two hundred and thirty-six (36) deaths.”
To date, according to Cabinet 653 health workers have been infected countrywide.
Covid-19 cases for week 42 stood at 158 up from 105 from week 41, Cabinet noted.
The government which has relied heavily on foreign donors for resources to combat the pandemic expressed gratitude for the continuous flow of donations.
“Cabinet further wishes to inform the nation that Government is still receiving invaluable assistance from co-operating partners as efforts to bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control continue.
“On this very positive note, the Government of Japan is supporting Zimbabwe in equipping four (4) Central and eight (8) Provincial hospitals with state-of the-art medical equipment comprising bedside intensive Care Unit monitors, an ultrasound scope, operation and examination equipment, a portable X-ray system, bedside Coronary Care Unit monitors, emergency ventilators, electrocardiographs, an anaesthesia workstation, and artificial resuscitators,” she said.
The equipment will soon be distributed to Parirenyatwa, Sally Mugabe, Mpilo and United Bulawayo Central Hospitals, and to Bindura, Chinhoyi, Gwanda, Gweru, Kadoma, Marondera, Masvingo and Mutare Provincial Hospitals, she said.
“The support from Japan will assist Zimbabwe in ensuring a healthy nation that can withstand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
