686 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 12th of February 2022, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 231 299 after 85 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 21 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 11 February 2022, was: 32 hospitalised cases: 2 New Admissions, 3 Asymptomatic cases, 26 mild-to-moderate cases, 3 severe cases and 0 cases in Intensive Care Unit. A total of 2 485 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 4 311 842. A total of 3 567 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 3 343 024. A total of 1 722 people received their 3rd dose of vaccine shots bringing the cumulative for 3rd doses to 82 667. Active cases went up to 3 135. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The total number of recoveries went up to 222 790 increasing by 58 recoveries. The death toll remains at 5 374 after 0 deaths were recorded.
Area of Concern
Recognition of the Role of Workers in Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis of Care
We highlight the role of essential service workers and workers at large in responding to the multi-layered crises spotlighted by the COVID-19. In particular, we highlight the deficiencies and the negative economic costs of State systems that do not have the capacity to address the multi-layered trauma, nation-wide that is created, facilitated and exposed by both natural and man-made crises including the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst the pandemic itself was indeed not fully anticipated, the question of the inability of State systems to respond to the socio-economic stresses raised by crises remains on the table of government. This responsibility has been made graver by the undermining of the role of workers within critical services arms of the State. Essential service workers, delivering critical services in health, education, social welfare and water and sanitation have been persistently de-prioritised and undermined as they acquit the critical care work which continues to be unrecognised, unrewarded and unsupported.
- We continue to call upon Government to fully address the conditions of service of all workers and critically to invest in addressing the crises of poor health, education and social welfare system that unnecessarily undermine all socio-economic and political efforts directed and securing the rights of citizens sustainably.
COVID-19 Surveillance in Schools
We highlight the resumption of the education calendar and raise concerns regarding ensuring community -based surveillance systems are well supported to respond swiftly to incidents of potential localised outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools and in communities. We note lessons learnt in prior resumption of schools and accordingly urge the following:
- Increased direct efforts to test students in public boarding schools and in community schools to stem the potential super spreader potential of infections in schools.
- Increased support for testing and tracing systems in schools prior to outbreaks spreading.
- We continue to remind the Government that vaccination is not a substitute for infection control.
- We urge decentralisation of supplies and materials from provincial centres to district centres to strengthen the response times and response capacities of teams on the ground.
- We continue to urge schools and communities to exercise the highest levels of vigilance and protect learners and learning institutions from widespread outbreaks of COVID-19.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
