By Tafanana Kwedu

Government on Friday announced that it will soon avail ZW$10 million to refurbish and re-equip Victoria Chitepo Hospital in Manicaland Province to better respond to COVID-19 demands.

Responding to a request by Minister of State for Manicaland Province and the Provincial Covid-19 Taskforce Chairperson, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba at a virtual meeting with Manicaland Province business community, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Prof. Muthuli Ncube said availing funds towards COVID-19 fight was government priority.

“We will look into the issue and extend the necessary support. We have noted the Victoria Chitepo Hospital’s request for ZWL10 million,” he said.

Gwaradzimba said the hospital had so far received some support from well-wishers.

“We received lots of support from Manicaland business community towards fighting the COVID-19. But ZWL10 million is required to complete the refurbishment and equipping the Victoria Chitepo hospital,” she said.

Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 death toll jumped to 97 after the country recorded 13 fatalities in 3 days between August 1 and 3.

About 56 new Covid-19 patients were recorded on Thursday, including 54 local cases and 2 returnees from South Africa and Zambia.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak on 20 March, 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 4 395, recovered 1 264, active cases 3 040 and 97 deaths.

The month of July saw the country recording an unprecedented peak in new infections and deaths since the first case was registered at the end of March.

The country is under an indefinite level 2 lockdown aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic but infections continue to spike regardless, with health authorities attributing the increase to a failure to observe set guidelines and regulations such as compulsory wearing of masks and physical distancing.