653 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 10th of January 2022, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 223 000 after 709 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Harare with 138 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 9 January 2022, was: 213 hospitalised cases: 21 New Admissions, 21 Asymptomatic cases, 174 mild-to-moderate cases, 16 severe cases and 2 case in Intensive Care Unit. A total of 4 281 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 4 172 089. A total of 5 779 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 3 192 289. A total of 993 people received their 3rd dose of vaccine shots bringing the cumulative for 3rd doses to 14 345. Active cases went down to 21 305. The recovery rate rose to 88%. The total number of recoveries went up to 196 515 increasing by 2 209 recoveries. The death toll went up to 5 180 after 20 deaths were recorded.
Critical Emerging Issue
Home-based care amidst high number of active cases
We note that of the 21 305 currently active COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe, only 213 cases are currently hospitalised. This reveals that a greater burden of COVID-19 management is being carried by communities and at household level. We highlight the need to ensure that relevant and adequate support is provided to communities in order to alleviate various difficulties presented by home-based COVID-19 care and management. We urge the following measures to be implemented by Government and stakeholders:
- Ensuring capacitation and resourcing of community isolation centres in order to cater for households that are incapable of practising self-isolation due to their restricted living and housing conditions.
- Provision of PPE to households taking care of COVID-19 patients.
- Stepping up on awareness campaigns on handling of COVID-19 deaths at community level in order to minimise risk of infection.
Outstanding Issues
Reduced media coverage of COVID-19
We note, with growing concern, reduced media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe, as the Nation continues to implement the vaccination programme and as the pandemic continue to be present and the lockdown is within a 2-week extension. We are concerned at the high number of community deaths which require that communities and the media at large remain vigilant of the pandemic. We further note the COVID-19 fatigue not only amongst communities, but also amongst stakeholders, duty bearers, the media and information community.
Cognisant of the key role played by the media in addressing matters of national concern;
- We call upon the media to remain vigilant to the pandemic in Zimbabwe.
- We call upon the editors and respective newsrooms to continue to prioritise the coverage and reporting of COVID-19 as we face difficulties in navigating the curve of infections.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
