Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister
Monica Mutsvangwa said after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that the Government
had been paying US$1 000 and US$600 depending on grade for each health worker
who falls sick but now those who remain unvaccinated are considered a health
threat to colleagues and patients.
Last week, Treasury released $75 million towards the
compensation. Of the 4 444 health
workers so far infected, 432 have
already received their payouts.
The Health Services Board (HSB) has approved the payments
to another 2 196 with funds already allocated able to cover about 1 367 workers
so further allocations are required.
“Noting that the frontline staff were given an opportunity
to vaccinate ahead of others, the nation is advised that a considerable number
of frontline workers, 20 percent, have still not presented themselves for
vaccination,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“Given the risk this poses not only to other workers but
also to patients, Cabinet set 14 July 2021 as the deadline for the vaccination
of the frontline workers. After this date, those who not vaccinated will not
receive Covid-19 insurance payouts. For the avoidance of doubt, those
vaccinated staff members who test positive will, however, still be eligible for
the Covid-19 insurance pay out,” she
said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Vice President Constantino
Chiwenga — in his capacity as Health and Child Care Minister — updated Cabinet on the procurement
of vaccines, which is on a positive trajectory with Finance and Economic
Development Minister Mthuli Ncube saying last week that adequate funds were
available.
Besides the 500 000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines that
arrived last Saturday, bringing the total number of doses delivered to 2,26
million, Sen Mutsvangwa said two million doses of Sinovac vaccine would arrive
by the end of this week, bringing the total to 4,26 million.
A further 1,5 million doses were in the middle of next
month, another 1,5 million doses by August and another 1,5 million doses by
September. Vaccination rates are already approaching 25 000 doses a day,
roughly 750 000 doses a month, and those in charge have already been talking
about taking the rate quickly to over 1 million doses a month.
“Cabinet would like to reassure the nation that measures
are in place to safeguard health. In addition, the nation is advised that
travellers coming from countries with high risk of the alpha and delta Covid-19
variants of concern shall be quarantined in a designated hotel at their own
expense and have PCR test conducted at their own expense on arrival, tested on
day three, tested on day five, and tested on day 10.”
Sen Mutsvangwa said Cabinet noted with concern that the
surge reported the previous week continued with a total of 3 882 cases recorded
during last week, compared to 1 239 new cases reported the previous week.
“This represents a 213 percent increase. The majority of cases were recorded in
Mashonaland West with 1 798, Mashonaland Central with 1 375, and Midlands with
493.”
She said the public was strongly discouraged from visiting
or transiting through hotspots: Mashonaland West now has hotspots at Kariba,
Karoi, Makonde, Chinhoyi, Mhangura, Chidamoyo, Magunje and Chirundu; in
Bulawayo Nkulumane Emakhandeni and Northern Suburbs; in Mashonaland Central,
Mount Darwin; in Masvingo, Chiredzi; and in Midlands, Kwekwe.
Minister Mutsvangwa also noted an increase in hospital
admissions owing to Covid-19. As of Sunday, there were 353 hospitalised
Covid-19 cases. Of these 40 were new admissions, 97 were asymptomatic, 209 were
mild to moderate, 44 severe and 3 were in the intensive care unit.
She also highlighted the intensification of control
measures by law enforcement agents anchored on enforcing adherence to the
prescribed containment measures as well as heightened patrols along the
country’s borders. Herald
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