by Staff reporter

Government says it has scaled up its social protection programmes during this hunger period stretching from January to March, adding that supporting and protecting the vulnerable will continue to be key part of the Government’s COVID-19 response plan.

In a press statement after the weekly National Taskforce on COVID-19 virtual meeting, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the Department of Social Welfare was repatriating and providing shelter to children and persons living and working in the streets.

“Presently, 128 people are being sheltered at Beatrice, Ruwa, Mt Hampden Rehabilitation Centres as well as Northcot Training Institute. Government continues to work with development partners and NGOs to ensure that their programmes targeted at vulnerable groups carry on even during the lockdown period,” said Senator Mutsvangwa.

She said the Taskforce noted the increase in the number of citizens flouting lockdown regulations.

“The past week, the cumulative number of countrywide arrests for flouting COVID-19 regulations increased by over 2 000 from 19 188 the previous week to 21 647. Notable offenders include those who violate movement restrictions, gather unlawfully, fail to properly don their masks and operate non-essential business,” she said.

She added that the Taskforce noted a decreasing positivity rate from the peak in mid-January to present. She, however, warned that although the surge in cases was now coming under control, it was not to be seen as a reason to throw caution in the wind.

As of 2 February 2021, COVID-19 cases had reached 33 814 with 26 794 recoveries, 1 254 deaths and 5 766 active cases. Treasury has set aside $100 million as a war chest against the deadly disease with China assuring the nation that it will be among the 14 first countries to receive vaccine aid.