609 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 27th of November 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 133 951 after 115 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Masvingo with 82 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 26 November 2021, 16 hospitalised cases: 3 New Admissions, 0 Asymptomatic cases, 12 mild-to-moderate cases, 2 severe cases and 2 cases in Intensive Care Units. A total of 8 040 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 764 538. A total of 8 071 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 795 050. Active cases go down to 600. The total number of recoveries went up to 128 646 increasing by 19 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The death toll goes up to 4 705 after 1 new death was recorded.
Critical Emerging Issue
Equity in Global Crisis Responses
We reiterate the need for the demonstration of the step by step support to developing countries through coordinated, supported and resourced multilateral response efforts including and not limited to; the COVID-19 pandemic response .
We highlight the matters of injustice in the global arena undermine the mutual aspirations of countries and the commitments made to the Sustainable Development Goals and a plethora of commitments under various multilateral arrangements.
WE condemn the responses to Omicron variants that has resulted in a shutting out of Southern Africa and raise concern regarding the one-sided approach of rich developed nations on this matter. We highlight that the Omicron variant is clearly prevalent elsewhere in the globe but rather it has been sterling medical work of African researchers in African countries who rang the alarm to a disproportionate negative response by the world.
We continue to call upon the developed nations of the globe, to place equity and justice at the centre of their mechanisms when addressing global matters that will not be resolved if everyone is not equitably supported.
We continue to critique vaccine inequity which presently has manifested itself in the population of the G20 countries having 73% of their populations vaccinated against a despairing figure of 3% of the populations of least developed countries. We amplify the calls made the WHO which notes with concern that of 7 billion vaccines administered, 80% of those vaccines have been in the G20 Countries and only 0.4% in Africa
- We call for the G20 to support direct increased support for developing countries to combat climate change and build back in a clean, climate smart integrated and sustainable post-COVID-19 economic recovery process.
- We call for increased vaccine support to Sub-Saharan Africa from developing countries which have already vaccinated 40% of their populations.
- We call to multilateral platforms to be just and as such, we amplify reminders that multilateral efforts that do not reform to protect the principle of equity and equality constrain themselves and undermine progress in critical global processes, to the undue distress of all nations.
Outstanding issues
Ramping up awareness of anti-COVID-19 measures in the public
We call for a renewed intensity by the public and national leadership to reinvigorate efforts to support positive health seeking behaviour in the community by restating the importance of adhering to social distancing, complete mask wearing and frequent sanitization. We are concerned that the COVID-19 fatigue at the point where variants of concern including Omicron are in circulation and may have significant impact on public health measures. Whilst we support the calls for public calm we are concerned by the steady widely reported drop in adherence to infection control measures which remain the central means to protect communities against the spread of COVID-19.
We raise particular concern to areas such as community water points, agro trade centres, public transport bus stops and the public transport vehicles.
- We therefore remind businesses, service providers and the general populace that wearing masks alone is not the panacea to curbing the spread of the pandemic. This measure should be supported with actions such as social and physical distancing, disinfecting work spaces and use of hand sanitizers.
- In the same breadth, we urge Government, Civil Society organisations and stakeholders to raise awareness on the WHO updated guidelines for proper use of masks.
- We call for increased efforts in the district COVID-19 taskforce teams on community engagement and availing r testing and tracing support to communities.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
