Staff Reporter
The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting services Monica Mutsvangwa says the Health Ministry is ready to introduce Covid-19 self-test kits.
Addressing the media at the 16th post-cabinet press briefing yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa said, “The Ministry of Health and Child Care is ready to introduce COVID-19 self-test kits, mainly at points of entry and remote areas, in order to ramp up testing in all communities.”
In an interview with this publication, health analyst Tariro Maposa hailed the initiative saying it will go a long in empowering communities that are further from health institutions, making it efficient in the early detection of Covid 19 symptoms also cost effective.
“This development is greatly welcome because it saves time and money for travelling and testing costs. People can now simply move with their test kits and self-test when the need arises,” gushed Maposa.
Furthermore, the Minister informed on the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate which still sits at 97 percent despite the increase of recorded COVID-19 cases in the past week.
"The nation is advised that as at 13 June 2022, the country's cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 254 155, with 246 566 recoveries and 5 521 deaths. The recovery rate was 97%, with 2 078 active cases having been reported,” said Mutsvangwa.
The Minister also highlighted that Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, the only province which had more than 10 percent increase in new cases last week had now recorded a less than 10 percent increase, while the national statistics will show a steady increase in the uptake of the third dose vaccination.
"Regarding the national vaccination programme, Cabinet wishes to highlight that as at 12 June 2022, a total of 6 249 549 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered, while 4 581 185 people had received their second dose and 841 330 their third dose. This translates to a national coverage of 55.6 percent, compared to 55.5 percent the previous week," said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Meanwhile, all provinces will continue strengthening the implementation of public health and social measures as part of the new normal of keeping COVID-19 in check.
