by Grace Chekai
Cabinet has approved the Action Plan which was presented by Vice President and co- Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce, Honourable Kembo Mohadi on COVID-19 at the 9th cabinet meeting decision matrix yesterday.
Presenting the Action Plan, Vice President Mohadi said that measures must be put in place to ensure that the economy continues to work during the lockdown period.
He said that registering of vulnerable communities by the Department of Social Welfare should be stepped up to ensure that all the households affected by the lockdown are catered for through the usual social protection mechanisms availed by Government. VP Mohadi also called the expedition of the cash transfer programme to assist the affected individuals during the lockdown period.
The cash transfer will be targeting people that have lost their resources or livelihoods due to the measures put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19, including those in the informal sector.
Vice President Mohadi urged the production of hand sanitizers and face masks locally by institutions of higher learning and manufacturing companies.
Institutions of higher learning have already started producing hand sanitizers with University of Zimbabwe (UZ) producing 5 000 litres per day and Midlands State University (MSU) producing 10 000 masks per month.
However, the World Health Organisation has urged the use of masks only when one is taking care of a person with suspected COVID-19 and when coughing or sneezing. WHO said that the masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Vice President Mohadi said that the COVID-19 treatment and isolation centres will be established in five central/referral hospitals, ten provincial hospitals and 52 district hospitals under the supervision of the Ministries of Health and Child Care and Local Government and Works.
He said that the Taskforce will brief the Nation on a weekly basis, while the Ministers of Health and Child Care and Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services will provide updates more regularly as Government moves to operationalize the approved Action Plan.
As of yesterday, Zimbabwe has recorded eight positive tests of COVID-19 cases, 266 negative tests, 274 cumulative tests and one person who succumbed to the virus.
