646 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 3rd of January 2022, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 216 087 after 1 209 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 337 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 2 January 2022, was: 332 hospitalised cases: 27 New Admissions, 60 Asymptomatic cases, 227 mild-to-moderate cases, 58 severe cases and 6 cases in Intensive Care Unit. A total of 3 431 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 4 136 295. A total of 3 631 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 3 147 659. A total of 556 people received their 3rd dose of vaccine shots bringing the cumulative for 3rd doses to 6 508. Active cases went down to 26 446. The recovery rate rises to 86%. The total number of recoveries went up to 185 594 increasing by 850 recoveries. The death toll went up to 5 047 after 15 deaths were recorded.
Critical Emerging Issue
Vaccination of Learners
As Schools, in particular, exam classes begin to reopen to young people, we seek to amplify the call to guardians and parents to make efforts to support the vaccination of those over 16 years and are in learning institutions. We highlight with concern that COVID-19 outbreaks are indeed usually driven by leaning centre outbreaks. It is a critical support measure therefore, to ensure that besides the traditional get-back- to- school- routine undertaken by families, COVID-19 vaccinations are prioritised and are supported at household level.
- We call for parent and guardians of persons over the ages of 16 to support and ensure children are fully informed and are vaccinated.
- We call for parents and guardians of children who are in community schools or other learning centres which have not been operating as vaccination centres to engage the nearest vaccination centre to secure vaccination.
- We implore parents and guardian to get vaccinated and lead by example.
Outstanding Issue
Testing Tracing and Reporting Mechanisms
We highlight gaps in the national Testing, Tracing and reporting system. We highlight the daily reports which present the PCR tests taken at district and main health centres. We note however that community health centres are undertaking rapid antigen tests which are not being reported. This gap in the reporting raises questions on the efficacy of the testing system at community level and further indicates the high levels of households and communities who are having to shoulder the COVID-19 burden without support and excluded from the support systems in place. The disease burden of the COVID-19 pandemic is largely invisible and has continued to leave communities behind. We call for increased vigilance in the testing and tracing of COVID-19.
- We call for the publication of both PCR and antigen test data in the public domain.
- We continue to call for the publication of the sero-prevalence and genomic testing reports from survey recently undertaken but whose reports are outstanding the public domain.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
