531 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 10th of September 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 126 163 after 107 new cases, all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 30 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as of 15:00hrs on 9th September 2021 was 63 hospitalised cases: 11 new admissions, 3 asymptomatic cases, 43 mild-to-moderate cases, 14 severe cases and 3 cases in Intensive Care Units.
Active cases went down to 3 200. The total number of recoveries went up to 118 431 increasing by 372 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 94%. A total of 19 372 people received their 1st dose of vaccine. The cumulative number of 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 2 824 596. A total of 35 056 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 1 831 231. The death toll went up to 4 532 after 11 new deaths were recorded.
Critical Emerging Issue
Non-adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols and guidelines
We continue to draw attention to the significant drop in communities’ adherence to safety protocols such as masking up, despite the increase in monetary fines for the offence. Our networks report an increasing trend of communities’ heightened laxity in adherence to physical distancing, mandatory mask-wearing right across the country. Furthermore. The reports highlight an increase in handshaking and hugging by communities in recent days. This raises infection control challenges especially in the current context which is predominantly characterised by a surge in socio-economic activities, high levels of congestion and density of persons.
- We continue to remind and stress to both the public and policy makers that vaccination is not a substitute for infection control.
- We continue to call for adherence to physical distancing, wearing of facemasks and regular temperature checks by businesses both formal and informal.
Outstanding issue
Expansion of Vaccination Drive
We note the announcement by the Ministry of Health and Child-Care that the Nation is currently stocking 4 million doses of Sinopharm, 5.2 million doses of Sinovac, 35 000 doses of Covaxin and 65 000 doses of Sputnik V. However, we continue to draw attention to the severe limitation of the vaccination drive particularly in the face of increasing social and economic restrictions based on proof of vaccination. We continue to raise concerns that mining, agricultural and trading communities have limited access to vaccination. Whilst we commend the inclusion of volunteers at vaccination centres, reports indicate that they remain too limited to make a significant real-time impact on communities. We highlight the expanded housing settlements and communities across the country which are underserviced in terms of clinics and health centres. As a result, these communities do not have easily accessible points to get vaccinated.
- We continue to highlight artisanal miners and mining communities are that located in urban communities have and in mining communities.
- We continue to call for vaccination centres to be located at agro-centres, grain depots and collection points.
- We continue to call for mobile vaccination points at both food and non-food traders’ markets.
- We continue to call for vaccination points to be established in rural resettlement communities and in new housing development communities.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
