by Zivanai Dhewa
Major essential service providers have been forced to close down as COIVD-19 infections continue to rise within the workplace and in the communities.
Parliament of Zimbabwe has today released, a press statement notifying of its temporary shut-down.
“It is with a heavy heart that Parliament announces the suspension of most of its business due to exposure of some Members of Parliament to COVID-19.
“As of this morning two Members of Parliament had been confirmed positive, a driver from one of our service providers and a journalist who were party of the team also tested positive,” reads part of the statement.
Meanwhile, Pick n Pay Kamfinsa’s Managing Director, Mr Malcolm Mycroft released a statement notifying of the closure of the Kamfinsa Branch.
“Kamfinsa Branch has been temporarily closed due to a staff member testing positive to COVID-19. The employee is now self-quarantined and all our other staff at the branch are being screened and tested in accordance with the Ministry of Health and Child Care guidelines,” said Mycroft.
Last week, two of the biggest medical aid service providers, PSMAS and CIMAS announced of the closure of one and two branches respectively after some of their staff tested positive to COVID-19
In a statement dated 18 July 2020, CIMAS said, “A member of our reception staff tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday 16 July 2020…contact tracing and testing subsequently revealed that other members of staff had been exposed to the virus as they had been in the same work area with the staff member who had been exposed.
“Meanwhile, the CIMAS Highglen Clinic has been closed temporarily following the exposure of a staff member to a confirmed case.”
The Ministry of Health and Child Care, yesterday recorded 78 new cases for COVID-19, of these 74 where local cases, while four were returnees from South Africa who are currently under isolation. This has brought the total number of infections to 2512 cumulative of 1486 local and 1026 from returnees.
This calls for all Zimbabweans to follow the lockdown regulations and fight the spread of COVID-19 as a nation. It calls for people to stay indoors and self-isolate in order to stay safe and protect their loved ones. Events that draw crowds at this very critical time, such as weddings, church meetings and the ill-advised #31July2020 demonstrations need to be set aside as many people can be infected at such gatherings.
