Zimbabwe Lockdown: Day 444 – WCoZ Situation Report

444 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 15th of June 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 40 318 after 241 new cases were reported, including 2 returnees (1 South Africa and 1 Zambia). The highest case tally was recorded in Mashonaland West with 115 cases.

We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on the 14th of June 2021 were 98 hospitalised cases, 15 asymptomatic cases, 65 mild to moderate cases, 15 severe cases and 3 cases in Intensive Care Units. We note several Hospitals in, Midlands, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South did not report. Active cases went up to 1 625. The total number of recoveries went up to 37 056 increasing by 29 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 92%. A total of 1 162 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 694 730.  A total of 724 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 418 748. The death toll goes up to 1 637 after 2 new deaths were recorded.

We commend the progress towards ensuring persons seeking their second doses of vaccines are indeed prioritised and are able to access the second doses despite the on-going shortage. We note with concern however, the overall slow-down in vaccination driven by the shortage of vaccine and continue to await the critical updates on vaccines procurement. Thus, we urge government full transparency on the vaccine situation in the country. We continue to call for a Commission of Enquiry of the management of this entire COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe within the life of this 9th Parliament.

Critical emerging issues

Monitoring of Variants in Zimbabwe

We note with concern reports indicating that South Africa our largest trading partner is presently recording and tracing over 30 variants of note,  and we are alive to the fact that this has implications for both Zimbabwe and South Africa in regards to measures to contain COVID-19. Whilst we are fully aware of the continuing measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe, in particular travel-related containment measures, we continue to seek an update regarding the tracking and tracing of COVID-19 Variants of concern in currently  in Zimbabwe. This update remains critical at this time to support the response mechanism of communities and the public to adherence to anti-COVID-19 measures.

We note the concerns of communities to the potential presence of the variant which has been identified in India and also the potential changes in the variants and mutations which were already circulating locally.

  • We urge the Ministry of Health and Child Care to update on the current mutations and variants identified and in circulation in Zimbabwe.

Critical Outstanding Issue

Updates of cases in localised lockdown communities

We note with concern that COVID-19 cases in areas with localised lockdowns are not being directly reported daily in line with the original commitment by Government.

We reiterate that central to securing the support of the public is a shift in communications which includes making citizens more knowledgeable about matters in their communities in order to directly to empower them to influence behavioural change according to their local risk profiles.

  • We continue to call upon government to upgrade its approach to availing critical information, timeously, to the public, regarding the pandemic to secure direct influence on behavioural change.
  • We remind the Government in particular the COVID-19 taskforce teams at all levels, that, when people and communities know more, they can do more to effect positive change.

Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ)

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