684 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 10th of February 2022, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 231 040 after 160 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 35 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 9 February 2022, was: 31 hospitalised cases: 14 New Admissions, 2 Asymptomatic cases, 23 mild-to-moderate cases, 6 severe cases and 0 cases in Intensive Care Unit. A total of 3 878 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 4 305 941. A total of 4 505 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 3 336 054. A total of 3 670 people received their 3rd dose of vaccine shots bringing the cumulative for 3rd doses to 78 272. Active cases went down to 3 178. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The total number of recoveries went up to 222 489 increasing by 226 recoveries. The death toll goes up to 5 373 after 6 deaths were recorded.
Area of Concern
Importance of Tracking, Monitoring and Reporting COVID-19 Variants
We continue to call for persistency and consistency in tracking, monitoring and sharing with the public the results of the genomic sequencing to trace COVID-19 variants of interest and variants of concern nationally. We continue to amplify reports from the local scientific community calling for the need to support research in genomic surveillance of COVID-19 positive cases among fully vaccinated individuals to determine the effectiveness against variants of interests and variants of concern.
We highlight on-going concerns regarding the spread of the Omicron Sub-variants with high levels of transmissibility and the large impact it has made in Europe and Asia. This monitoring is necessary to ensure tracking of vaccine efficacy in the face of the variants which can indeed nullify the gains of vaccines presently developed. Despite cases indicating a low number of international COVID-19 transmissions, we remain alive to the potential infection control implications of increased relaxation of COVID-19 regulations, increased socio-economic activities and increased traffic at our borders.
The vigilance in regard to the potential variants of interest and variants of concern are a critical element in protecting the gains made thus far in the COVID-19 response.
- We call for the increased support into local research into genomic surveillance of COVID-19 positive cases among fully vaccinated individuals directly
- We call for publication of the results of COVID-19 variant tracking widely.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
