PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is today expected to update the nation
on whether the 21-day lockdown put in place as a measure to curb the spread of
the coronavirus (Covid-19), which is coming to an end at midnight, will be
extended or not.
The announcement will be based on resolutions that will be
made after the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19 meeting today. In making
the decision to lift or extend the lockdown, authorities are expected to factor
in suggestions from assessments made in all the country’s 10 provinces on the
nationwide capacity to combat the virus.
The President declared the nationwide 21-day lockdown that
started on 30 March as part of means of preventing the spread of the Covid-19
pandemic, which to date has infected over two million people globally, with over
150 000 succumbing to the virus. In Zimbabwe as of last
Friday the country had recorded 24 positive cases including
two recoveries and three deaths. Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister
Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday said that the announcement on the
next course of action would be made today.
“As you are aware, it was the President who made the
announcement when the lockdown was announced. As the chair of the Cabinet
taskforce, we will seek direction from him on the next course of action and it
will be announced after the taskforce meeting which will be held tomorrow
(today),” she said.
A number of nations, including Zimbabwe’s neighbours South
Africa have extended their respective lockdowns with varying days citing need
for more days to curb the spread of the pandemic in their countries. Delivering
his Independence Day speech yesterday, President Mnangagwa paid gratitude to
the nation for its response to the pandemic, especially regarding the
collective appreciation and honouring of the 21-day lockdown. He applauded the
various sectors that had combined forces in terms of fight against the spread
of the pandemic noting that with unity, love and common purpose nothing can
prevail against the nation.
“I equally want to thank some countries and partners from
abroad such as the People’s Republic of China, United Kingdom, United States of
America, United Arab Emirates, European Union, the World Health Organisation
and other United Nations Agencies, as well as the Jack-Ma Foundation, among
many other international organisations and well-wishers, who have generously
supported our fight against Covid-19.
“40 years after Independence, let us remain hopeful and
steadfast in spirit. Vision 2030 is alive and beyond Covid-19, its
accomplishment must be accelerated. Our present experiences, in the wake of
this pandemic, teach us that friends and investors may assist us. However, it
is the collective efforts of all of our nationals across all sectors, that will
make the difference,” said President Mnangagwa.
According to the figures released by the Ministry of Health
and Child Care on Friday, the country has carried out a total of 1 194 tests of
which 24 have been confirmed as positive. Bulawayo still tops the list with 10
positive cases followed by Harare at nine, Mashonaland East at four and
Matabeleland North at one. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner
Paul Nyathi said as of yesterday, 8 673 people had been arrested for defying
the lockdown.
“Bulawayo had the greatest number of people at 1 887, while
Manicaland had 1 724. In Harare 1 081 people were arrested while the figure was
1 217 for the Midlands. Other provinces recorded less than 1 000 arrests,” he
said
Meanwhile, 400 deportees who are quarantined at various
centres in Bulawayo will only be released if they test negative in the tests
they will be subjected to during their time in isolation. Bulawayo recieved
deportees who had been moved from their previous quarantine centre, Plumtree
High School last Saturday. They were moved with the intention of easing
crowding while providing them with better living conditions. Some are housed at
Bulawayo Polytechnic while others are at the United College of Education (UCE).
The initial batch of deportees were expected to spend nine more days at the centres
before they are released after spending six days in quarantine in Plumtree.
Bulawayo Provincial Medical Director Dr Welcome Mlilo
explained the process that those in quarantine would have to go through before
their release.
“They will undergo Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) on contact
and 14 days later. These are like the tests we do for Malaria or for HIV.
Health workers prick your finger and collect blood sample which is administered
to a small cartridge. A buffer is added. In 15 minutes, you get a result. These
test for antibodies the body produces in response to an infection, in this case
the Covid-19 virus. We are using these for screening purposes, not as a
diagnostic test. If one tests positive on RDT, we go on to confirm with Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase Chain Reaction (DNA PCR)
test,” said Dr Mlilo.
He said that should they be negative results in both tests,
those individuals would then be released with the Social Welfare Department
expected to take care of their transportation to their respective homes.
who have generously supported our fight against Covid-19.
“40 years after Independence, let us remain hopeful and
steadfast in spirit. Vision 2030 is alive and beyond Covid-19, its
accomplishment must be accelerated. Our present experiences, in the wake of
this pandemic, teach us that friends and investors may assist us. However, it
is the collective efforts of all of our nationals across all sectors, that will
make the difference,” said President Mnangagwa.
According to the figures released by the Ministry of Health
and Child Care on Friday, the country has carried out a total of 1 194 tests of
which 24 have been confirmed as positive. Bulawayo still tops the list with 10
positive cases followed by Harare at nine, Mashonaland East at four and
Matabeleland North at one. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner
Paul Nyathi said as of yesterday, 8 673 people had been arrested for defying
the lockdown.
“Bulawayo had the greatest number of people at 1 887, while
Manicaland had 1 724. In Harare 1 081 people were arrested while the figure was
1 217 for the Midlands. Other provinces recorded less than 1 000 arrests,” he
said
Meanwhile, 400 deportees who are quarantined at various
centres in Bulawayo will only be released if they test negative in the tests
they will be subjected to during their time in isolation. Bulawayo received
deportees who had been moved from their previous quarantine centre, Plumtree
High School last Saturday. They were moved with the intention of easing crowding
while providing them with better living conditions. Some are housed at Bulawayo
Polytechnic while others are at the United College of Education (UCE). The
initial batch of deportees were expected to spend nine more days at the centres
before they are released after spending six days in quarantine in Plumtree.
Bulawayo Provincial Medical Director Dr Welcome Mlilo
explained the process that those in quarantine would have to go through before
their release.
“They will undergo Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) on contact
and 14 days later. These are like the tests we do for malaria or for HIV.
Health workers prick your finger and collect a blood sample which is
administered to a small cartridge. A buffer is added. in 15 minutes, you get a
result. These test for antibodies the body produces in response to an
infection, in this case the Covid-19 virus. We are using these for screening
purposes, not as a diagnostic test. If one tests positive on RDT, we go on to
confirm with Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase Chain Reaction (DNA PCR) test,”
said Dr Mlilo.
He said should there be negative results in both tests,
those individuals would then be released with the Social Welfare Department
expected to take care of their transportation to their respective homes. Sunday
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