564 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 12th of October 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 132 108 after 92 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Matebeleland North with 23 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on 12 October 2021 was 67 hospitalised cases: 6 New Admissions, 7 Asymptomatic cases, 46 mild-to-moderate cases, 12 severe cases and 2 cases in Intensive Care Units.
Active cases went down to 1 618. The total number of recoveries went up to 125 842 increasing by 149 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 94%. A total of 7 962 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 191 276. A total of 12 096 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 440 636. The death toll went up to 4 648 after 3 new deaths were recorded.
Critical Emerging Issue
New Vaccination Cards/Passports Not available
We note with concern that despite the launch of the new vaccination cards and announcements that these cards are now widely available at vaccination centres across the country, in real terms, two weeks post launch, the new cards are simply not available.
We continue to highlight and call upon Government to desist from making pronouncements on services which are not available practically.
We continue to call upon government to ensure the its internal systems are effective and efficient such that communities and citizens are not sent pillar-to-post in search of services which are simply not available causing great distress, costing women much needed money in transport costs, loss of income, increasing women’s time poverty and unnecessary dismay.
The new cards are supposed to be electronically enabled, not handwritten and can be verified anywhere in the world with enhanced security features.
We note the distress it is causing the large contingent of Zimbabwean young persons who are travelling all over the world as students and are being requested to present better security enabled proof of vaccination.
- We call for the expedition of delivery of new cards to all vaccination centres as a matter of urgency.
- We call for the publication in the printed press and television of vaccination offering new cards immediately.
- We call for replacement of cards to remain at no costs to the vaccinated persons.
- We call for the complete replacement for all handwritten cards to eradicate the vice of fake cards.
Outstanding Issues
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 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 fourth wave of COVID-19.
- We continue to 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 stop infection from spreading and hence infection control measures need to remain a key day to day priority.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
