By Chiedza Muswe
Government’s expansion of Covid19 testing throughout all provinces has led to an increase in the number of people getting tested daily compared to previous initial testing.
The total number of people who were tested yesterday alone is 831 bringing the total number of people tested so far to 4990. This shows that Government has improved testing pace.
Decentralisation has ensured Covid19 testing is expedited in all provinces. Yesterday Mashonaland West tested a total of 111people, Matebeleland North tested13 people, 62 for Manicaland, Masvingo did 110, Mashonaland East and Central both tested 34 and 65 people respectively, with Matabeleland South testing 74 and Midlands 37 people, while Harare and Bulawayo had the highest number of people tested, with each managing to test 101 and 224 people respectively bring the total number tested as of yesterday to 831.
Following the arrival of more testing kits and equipment, Government has set a target for itself to test above 40 000 people before the end of the month.
According to the Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting, Monica Mutsvangwa during the twelfth cabinet meeting decision matrix on Tuesday, the country has received a lot of test kits to be sent to provinces with 10 000 GeneXpert cartridges having been received last week.
“Receipt of a total of 4 499 Rapid Results Test Kits from Namibia on 15 April 2020 and their subsequent distribution to provinces. Furthermore, 6 000 additional Rapid Result Test Kits have been procured though UNDP/ Global Fund and Innscor with each availing 3 000 kits.
“With a further 20 000 GeneXpert cartridges being procured by UNICEF to help in the rolling out of testing for Covid19 to provincial and district levels. Consignments of 18 000 Extraction Kitsand some laboratory consumables were also received from Jack Ma and the world Health Organisation on 18 April 2020,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said, Cabinet also approved the establishment by the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19 of the eight sub-committees. She said the sub-committees would ensure effective and efficient execution of the taskforce’s mandate that included setting up of testing, treatment and isolation centres in provinces and districts as a matter of urgency.
She said the sub-committees would also work on setting up temporary testing, treatment and isolation centres in areas that did not have sufficient structures, among others.
Government has also highlighted that Ministry of Health and Child Care will be giving the number of testing centres, soon, highlighting that there is a lot of work being done to make sure that all Zimbabweans are taken care of.
