Zimbabwe Lockdown: Day 630– WCOZ Situation Report

630 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 18th of December 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 191 673 after 4 782 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Mashonaland West with 383 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on 17 December 2021, 416 hospitalised cases: 61 New Admissions, 50 Asymptomatic cases, 328 mild-to-moderate cases, 37 severe cases and 1 case in Intensive Care Units. A total of 9 276 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 4 047 743. A total of 10 279 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 3 063 934. Active cases went up to 51 136. The total number of recoveries went up to 135 755 increasing by 1 674 recoveries. The recovery rate went down to 72%. The death toll went up to 4 782 after 3 new deaths were recorded.

Critical Emerging Issue

Persons Living and Working on the Streets

We note the infections of COVID-19 that are presently in a spike which is occurring during a reported increase in flue cases. We accordingly draw attention to orphan and vulnerable children in particular those living on the streets. Furthermore, we draw attention on families and persons living on working in the streets who struggle to access health care services. We raise concerns with the recent rains that have increased the distress of families living and working in the streets. Furthermore, we note with concern the limited support through social welfare support services to actively reach out, test for the COVID-19 and administer vaccines to this critical and vulnerable community which is at high risk of COVID-19.

• We call for direct support by health care teams working in tandem with social welfare community case care workers to reach out to families living In in the streets to provide COVID-19 checks and health support for needs assessed.
• We continue to call for a full public report on the status of the persons in living and working on the streets their housing and their reunifications processes and measures to ensure that they are sufficiently able to access safeguarding mechanisms against COVID-19.
• We urge the announcement of mechanisms to protect those living and working on the streets against the spread of the virus, which includes a progress report on the vaccine roll-out targeting this special group.

Outstanding issues

Zimbabwe’s Spike of Rare Flue Cases During COViD-19 Pandemic

We amplify the matter pertaining to the number of cases of influenza which, during the COVID-19 Omicron driven increase in infections, may herald the potential prevalence of a new or different variant of COVID -19 in Zimbabwe.

We are fully cognisant that in the absence of actual expanded support to test the presence of COVID-19, versus the prevalence of flue, the increased number of cases of flue will increase speculation on then actual levels of COVID-19 in the country. It is critical that science driven interventions must be supported to ensure that policy responses are appropriate and responsive to the context in communities in the fullest.

• We join calls to support expanded and sustained genomic sequencing In Zimbabwe.
• We reiterate the calls for increased COVID-19 testing.
• We continue the call for the support to ensure increased testing for COVID-19 nationally.
• We restate the need for increased serotesting in Zimbabwe.

Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe