Zimbabwe Lockdown: Day 592– WCOZ Situation Report

592 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 10th of November 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 133 302 after 60 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Masvingo with 26 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 9 November 2021, 25 hospitalised cases: 7 New Admissions, 0 Asymptomatic cases, 24 mild-to-moderate cases, 1 severe cases and 0 cases in Intensive Care Units. A total of 14 638 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 408 610. A total of 7 862 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 669 749. Active cases slightly went up to 420. The total number of recoveries went up to 128 188 increasing by 35 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The death toll goes up to 4 694, following a record of 3 new deaths.

Critical Emerging Issue

Monitoring of Variants in Zimbabwe

We note with concern reports indicating potential fourth wave of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe which may be driven by variants of COVID-19. Whilst we are fully aware of the continuing measures to reduce the spread of COVID19 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 circulation 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 variants which have been identified in South Africa 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.
  • We specifically call or for full reporting on Variants of Interest and Variants of Concern tracked and traced locally.

 

Outstanding issues

Inequalities laid bare during COVID-19

Despite the relaxation of the lockdown measures, we bring to the fore the inequalities that have either been either laid bare or exacerbated by COVID-19 and the lockdowns. In particular, we highlight the gendered financial equality gaps due to socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, especially on that the majority of women in Zimbabwe and women-led households who continue to face the biggest impacts in food security, income loss, and care-giving burdens. We re-emphasize the need for prioritization of women’s access to social safety nets during COVID-19, taking due cognisance of the fact that a majority of women in the informal sector, such as the cross-border traders, have suffered severe loss of livelihoods due to the many lockdowns imposed since March 2020.

  • We call for the prioritisation of adequate funding of National Social Protection Policy Framework in the 2022 National Budget.
  • We reinforce our calls for the provision of support for households who are no longer able to sustain themselves due to loss of livelihoods, especially women-led households.

 

Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe

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