Zimbabwe Lockdown: Day 552 – WCOZ Situation Report

552 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 1st of October 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 131 028 after 208 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 84 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on 30 September 2021 was 94 hospitalised cases: 11 New Admissions, 5 Asymptomatic cases, 62 mild-to-moderate cases, 21 severe cases and 6 cases in Intensive Care Units.

Active cases went down to 3 006. The total number of recoveries went up to 123 398 increasing by 382 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 94%. A total of 13 327 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 097 391. A total of 18 078 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 289 213. The death toll went up to 4 624 after 1 new death was recorded.

We remain distressed with news of increasing incidents of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools. We continue to amplify our calls for enhanced investment in community schools to ensure adequate testing, quarantine facilities, water and sanitation provision to support promote the safety of pupils in schools.

Critical Emerging Issue

Zimbabwe receives first batch of COVAX facility Vaccines

We note the receipt of 943,200 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the global COVAX Facility which is supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and the WHO to support global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The doses received on the 29th of September 2021 and the 1st of October 2021, add on to the 12 million doses already procured by the Government to support the national vaccine program. We note that the receipt of these doses increases the availability of vaccines in Zimbabwe and supports the government to ensure that all persons eligible for vaccination have equal access to secure such vaccines. We continue to commend the work the COVAX facility to ensure equitable access to vaccines and reduce the discrepancies between rich and poor nations in securing doses of the vaccines.

• We call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to continue supporting measures to ensure vaccine stock are well kept and safe under the applicable conditions.
• We urge the Government to consider innovative and creative ways to ensure that the high vaccine roll out is supported by increased vaccination points and opportunities in hard to access communities and spaces.

Outstanding issues

Recognition of the Progress in the Zimbabwe Vaccination Program

We commend the continued efforts currently being undertaken by WHO towards extensive monitoring and support to African countries in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we note the update from the WHO indicating that 15 African countries (representing nearly a third of the 54 African countries) have fully vaccinated at least 10% of their populations. We note the recognition of countries that have made efforts to meet the targets and, or, are on track to meet the target for ensuring that 40% of their populations are vaccinated by the end of the year. We however raise issue with the lack of recognition of the sterling efforts being made by Zimbabwe to meet the target and as such currently being a leader in the SADC region in terms of vaccine rollout. We note that Zimbabwe is on its way to meet 20% vaccination target by the end of the October 2021, at a time when most counties in the global south are struggling to meet the 10% threshold. Therefore, we are concerned by Zimbabwe’s exclusion from the list of recognition of the countries who are meeting targets and rapidly moving at ensuring that their populations are fully vaccinated

• We urge the Government of Zimbabwe to address this anomaly in the regional and international arena.
• We call upon further engagement with the WHO and the Government of the Zimbabwe to equitably profile and recognise the progress and mechanisms undertaken by Zimbabwe in the vaccination rollout and approach.

Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe