563 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 11th of October 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 131 016 after 141 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 63 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on 11 October 2021 was 87 hospitalised cases: 5 New Admissions, 6 Asymptomatic cases, 63 mild-to-moderate cases, 15 severe cases and 3 cases in Intensive Care Units.
Active cases went down to 1 678. The total number of recoveries went up to 125 693 increasing by 214 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 94%. A total of 6 570 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 183 314. A total of 11 098 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 428 540. The death toll went up to 4 645 after 2 new deaths were recorded.
Critical Emerging Issue
Risks of Fourth Wave of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe
We raise concerns regarding the increase in infections in various communities this past week. Whilst the numbers are still negligible, they represent an increase in community infections. We draw attention to the sharp increase in infections in Manicaland and accordingly the potential of a fourth wave of COVID-19. We raise the need for the Zimbabweans to increase the uptake of COVID-9 vaccination to support reduction in intensity of the potential outbreak of the fourth wave of COVID-19.
- We emphasize call for a rapid escalation of the expansion of national vaccination drive to support reduced intensity of the fourth wave.
- We continue to remind citizens and communities alike that the intensity of COVID-19 infection and subsequent illnesses is directly reduced by the vaccination status of a person.
- We continue to remind communities that vaccination does not eradiate risk of infection hence the need to ensure that infection control measures remain a key day to day priority.
Outstanding Issues
Increased Access to Vaccination Programme for Rural Communities
We amplify calls for direct and deliberate expansion of the vaccine programme to rural and hard to reach communities. We draw attention to the shortages of vaccines at rural health care centres as reported by communities. We note that whilst efforts to ensure that rural health care centres have indeed been supported under the vaccine rollout, progress has been simply too slow and low to make significant impact. We note that this has been exacerbated by the fact that efforts to target rural socio-economic centres and hubs under the vaccine rollout have largely been weak, as raised in detail in prior reports. Furthermore, we highlight the long distances to healthcare centres which is reported by communities as a major hindrance to accessing the vaccines. We accordingly urge government to speedily address such gaps in the rural vaccination programme.
- We amplify our calls for vaccine equity within Zimbabwe.
- We call for prioritisation of rural, peri-urban and hard to reach communities for vaccine accessibility.
- We reiterate our recommendation for the rolling out of mobile vaccine centres to provide direct support to communities.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
