ZIMBABWE is among countries that have been warned by the
World Health Organisation (WHO) that local Covid-19 transmissions could ground
the health sectors if citizens remain blind to increasing figures.
The country is reaching the 1 000 Covid-19 mark with
increased local transmissions while Government observes that citizens are no
longer following lockdown measures.
In the past few months, the country’s Covid-19 cases were
largely imported but beginning this month there has been a shift as local
transmissions have exceeded external ones.
Government raised a red flag on cross border transporters
as they are derailing the country’s efforts towards preventing the spread of
the global pandemic.
Cross border transporters are listed among the high-risk
group for Covid-19 largely due to high numbers recorded in neighbouring
countries.
Government’s commitment towards repatriation of Zimbabweans
has seen more than 12 000 returnees being received through country’s borders
while an Air Zimbabwe flight has been deployed to repatriate citizens stuck in
China.
The repatriation process has been stalled after the plane
developed a technical fault in Bangkok, Thailand, en-route to China.
In a statement following the Covid-19 Ad-hoc
Inter-ministerial Taskforce meeting, Information Publicity and Broadcasting
Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday said the spike in local
transmissions could collapse the country’s health sector.
Already Bulawayo referral hospitals, Mpilo Central Hospital
and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) are feeling the heat as health workers have
tested positive for Covid-19.
More than 40 nurses at the two hospitals have tested
positive while approximately 300 health workers are placed on mandatory
self-isolation leaving the medical institutions with skeletal staff.
“My fellow Zimbabweans, our infection numbers are rising
and so are our death rates. This translates into an increased risk. Our health
facilities will be stretched and we just cannot afford the complacency we are
currently witnessing. The World Health Organisation health experts are
cautioning nations on the threat posed by local transmissions in the fight
against Covid-19. Zimbabwe is not exempted,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The minister said citizens should learn from President
Mnangagwa’s message that while the need to eke a living is important, a life
lost can never be resurrected.
She said citizens should take lockdown seriously, just the
way they did when Government imposed it in March.
“We address you when our Covid-19 infection rate approaches
the 1 000 mark. It is a time we note that the nation appears to be suffering
from lockdown fatigue. But the fact that we already have been under lockdown
for a long time does not give us an immunity from infections. Our vigilance
should be the same level as it was on Day 1. Let us not run out of steam,” she
said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Government’s Chief Coordinator on
Covid-19, Dr Agnes Mahomva, recommended that there be an increase in community
surveillance and strengthening cross border security checks among other
measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Minister said Government has employed 13 doctors to
spearhead the Covid-19 health strategy and prevention as local transmissions
increase.
“In light of the increased positive cases that are being
recorded, efforts are being channelled to resource medical facilities that will
deal with Covid-19 cases. As such 13 foreign trained Zimbabwean doctors and
members have been appointed and they are to assume duty starting from today, 13
July 2020,” said the Minister. Chronicle
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