By Ndumiso Tshuma
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has appealed to the public to remain vigilant against COVID-19 by continuing to wear masks, practice good hygiene, and maintain social distancing.
While cases have decreased, the virus is still considered a threat.
In an interview with CITE, Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, emphasized the ongoing need for mask-wearing.
“COVID-19 is still with us, and we must continue to observe the same precautions, including wearing masks.”
The Minister expressed disappointment that the initial decrease in COVID-19 cases, attributed to vaccination efforts, was followed by a significant drop in vaccine uptake.
“We believe the decline in COVID-19 cases was largely due to vaccination. However, we are disappointed that vaccine uptake dropped significantly once cases went down,” he said.
While acknowledging a decrease in COVID-related deaths, Dr Mombeshora cautioned against complacency.
“Deaths have decreased and are not as frequent as before, but we still see occasional COVID-related fatalities,” he remarked.
He further clarified that while cases are down, they haven’t entirely disappeared.
“We can say that COVID-19 cases have decreased, but it’s crucial to understand that cases still exist,” Dr. Mombeshora stated. “We continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, as vaccines remain effective in protecting against the virus.”
In May last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern.
