As the third wave of Covid-19 rages on, Zimbabwe’s hospitalisations have shot to over 750, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported on Monday.
The Southern African nation has to date recorded a total of 70, 426 Covid-19 infections including 2, 661 new cases registered yesterday alone.
“As of 11 July 2021, at 1500 hours there were 753 hospitalised cases,” said the Ministry of Health in its daily update late Monday.
The figure has almost doubled from the June 30 statistics which placed Covid-19 hospitalisations at 382, an indication the third could be more severe compared to the past two.
The Ministry said there were 90 new admissions recorded Monday adding 28 Covid patients were in the Intensive Care Units.
On Monday alone, 51 people succumbed to the pandemic bringing the cumulative total of coronavirus fatalities to 2, 236.
Recoveries stand at 46, 932 while active cases are 21, 258.
Of the 7, 037 tests carried out yesterday, the positivity rate stood at 37, 8 percent while the national recovery rate which used to be above 80 percent during the first wave has since dropped to 67 percent.
The covid-19 situation is deteriorating in the country at a time when the government is intensifying its vaccination drive with 30 332 people having received their first jab yesterday bringing the cumulative total to 926, 312.
The figure for the fully vaccinated Zimbabweans now stands at 605, 556 after the inoculation of additional 10, 139 people yesterday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa over two weeks ago, tightened the country’s Covid-19 control measures, moving them to a tougher level 4.
Under the new lockdown measures, businesses are now expected to operate from 0800 hours and close at 1530hours with intercity movement being prohibited, except for production and distribution of food and medicine.
Commercial transport remains operational to allow the economy to continue to run, but under strict observance of Covid-19 protocols with the industry being directed to decongest workplaces to 40 percent of manning levels
The curfew hours run from 1830hours to 0600 hours while the government has said those deported back to Zimbabwe will be subjected to self-quarantine, or be quarantined in identified places.
However, Zimbabweans, the majority of who are self-employed as a result of a ravaged economy continue to defy lockdown measures, with least 800 people have been arrested in Bulawayo for various Covid-19 violations over the weekend, with some being found drinking at shebeens and others not wearing face masks.
