Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 hospitalisations, which have been increasing since the beginning of the month, are now above 900 as the third wave of the pandemic continues to rage on.
The country has to date reported a total of 85, 732 of coronavirus infections since the first case was detected in March last year.
“As of 18 July 2021, at 1500 hours there were 915 hospitalised cases,” said the Ministry of Health in its daily update late Monday.
Yesterday’s figure marks an increase of 162 from 753 last Monday with indications the third could be worse than the first and the second.
The Ministry said there were 63 new admissions recorded yesterday adding 31 Covid patients were in the Intensive Care Units.
“The surge in cases has led to an increase in demand for beds, hence the government is expediting the full capacitation of isolation and treatment centres throughout the country,” Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said during a post cabinet briefing last Tuesday.
Yesterday alone, 75 people succumbed to the pandemic bringing the cumulative total of coronavirus fatalities to 2, 697.
Recoveries stand at 55, 714 while active cases are 27, 321.
Of the 7, 585 tests carried out yesterday, the positivity rate stood at 27, 9 percent while the national recovery rate which used to be above 80 percent during the first wave has since dropped to 65 percent.
The covid-19 situation is worsening in the country at a time when the government is intensifying its vaccination drive with 40, 056 people having received their first jab yesterday bringing the cumulative total to 1, 184, 435.
The figure for the fully vaccinated Zimbabweans now stands at 643, 203 after the inoculation of additional 2, 049 people yesterday.
Zimbabwe remains under the extended Level 4 Covid-19 control measures.
Under the measures, businesses operate from 0800 hours and close at 1530hours with intercity movement is 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.
Meanwhile, the government has with immediate effect directed all ministries and departments to further reduce the number of employees reporting for work from the 40 percent that has been in place to 10 percent save for the Ministry of Health and Child Care and designated critical services.
