by Staff Reporter
The public has been urged to remain vigilant and continue observing precautionary COVID-19 measures despite a downward trend in cases.
This was said yesterday by Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19 outbreak Chairperson who is also Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri while giving an update to the Cabinet on Zimbabwe’s response to the pandemic.
“While the country’s epidemic curve is showing a general downward trend since mid-January 2021, communities are urged to continue observing precautionary COVID-19 measures as prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines in order to maintain the declining trend,” she said.
On that note, the security sector has been tasked to intensify monitoring and enforcement in order to enhance compliance.
Cabinet was informed that as at 19 February 2021, the country’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 35 315 with 30797 recoveries, 1 414 deaths, a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 4 percent and a recovery rate of 88 percent. It was observed that 33 618 of the cases were attributed to local transmission. Active cases now stand at 2 922, while the cumulative number of infected Health Care workers is 3 999, with 18 deaths.
On the procurement and roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga informed Cabinet that the COVID-19 roll-out programme was launched on 17 February 2021 at Wilkins Infectious Disease Hospital and that vaccine distribution and training of vaccinators were underway across the country.
The Vice President gave out that vaccination of target groups commenced on 22 February 2021 in all the provinces and measures have been put in place to guarantee a steady flow of vaccine doses and to ensure that targeted groups receive their doses at the appropriate time.
Meanwhile, Cabinet approved the request by Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to include journalists in phase one of the inoculation, as journalism is listed as an essential service in SI 93 of 2020 and as media play a crucial role in providing information that saves lives.
Relatedly, Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry requested the Minister of Health and Child Care to designate the Roads Sector as an essential service under lockdown regulations as they are also playing a pivotal role in making sure that damaged roads during this rain season are being rehabilitated to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
