430 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 1st of June 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 38 998 after 37 new cases were reported, all are local cases and of which the highest case tally was recorded in Harare with 13 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on the 31st of May 2021 were 58 hospitalised cases, 6 asymptomatic cases, 40 mild to moderate cases, 7 severe cases and 5 cases in Intensive Care Units. Active cases go up to 775. The total number of recoveries went up to 36 624 increasing by 30 recoveries. The recovery rate still remains at 94%. A total of 2 325 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 678 003. A total of 8 878 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 353 278. The death toll goes up by three deaths to 1 599.
Critical emerging issue
Community mass testing
We note a decrease in the number tests currently being undertaken on a daily basis, especially in light of the Vaccine Roll-out currently underway. We draw attention to congested public spaces such a government service centres for transport, documentation, agriculture and other public services. We further remain troubled by the weak adherence to social distancing and mandatory mask wearing in retail centres and community social events.
We continue to emphasize on the need for an advanced test strategy which ensures community mass testing and contact tracing. We continue to emphasize that in the absence of mass community testing and public accounting for local transmission case-tracing, it is impossible to determine the appropriate reflection of the COVID-19 pandemic prevalence in Zimbabwe.
- We urge against de-prioritisation of testing, over the Vaccine roll out.
- We call for expanded testing in rural communities and public boarding schools
- We further reinforce our call for an advanced testing strategy in the Public sector and urge Government to update the Nation on the progress of testing of all members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and all lockdown enforcement officers.
Outstanding issue
Third Wave of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe
We highlight the warning from Zimbabwean Health Experts over the past three days regarding the COVID-19 third wave that Zimbabwe is presently experiencing. We are fully aware of the COVID-19 fatigue that is like a malaise over Zimbabwe broadly. We highlight to the public and policy makers alike of the threat of high rates of infections currently underway and those coming through.
We highlight the growing infection with 113 new cases recorded on the 26th of the May, 35 cases on the 27th of May, 64 cases on the 28th of May, 15 cases on the 29th of and 11 cases of the 30th of May.
We are in the midst of the third wave. The curve is going up.
We remind both policy makers and the public alike that vaccination does not protect against infection of COVID-19 and urge vigilance in the strongest sense.
- We urge the increase in levels of preparedness in the community health centres – we call for direct support to access to COVID testing kits in communities.
- We call for increased direct support to central hospital both administratively and operationally in regard to the COVID-19 response which had de-escalated in light of the state of the curve.
- We call for increased support to medication stocks and oxygen stocks directly which have a significance on the capacity of the frontline health workers to respond to the crisis
- We call for increased and equitable support to the provision of PPE in healthcare centres and district taskforce teams in particular the tracing and testing teams on the ground.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ)
