708 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 6th March 2022, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 239 209 after 190 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Mashonaland West with 58 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 5 March 2022, was: 69 hospitalised cases: 7 New Admissions, 5 Asymptomatic cases, 64 mild-to-moderate cases, 4 severe cases and 0 cases in Intensive Care Unit. A total of 656 people received their 1st dose of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 4 373 737. A total of 620 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 3 407 979. A total of 941 people received their 3rd dose of vaccine shots bringing the cumulative for 3rd doses to 140 252. Active cases went down to 5 066. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The total number of recoveries went up to 228 744 increasing by 520 recoveries. The death toll went up to 5 399, after 2 deaths were recorded.
Area of Concern
COVID-19 surveillance in schools
We continue to highlight concerns on ensuring that community -based surveillance systems are well supported to respond swiftly to incidents of potential localised outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools and in communities. Noting the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in schools in a number of Provinces, we highlight 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 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 wide spread outbreaks of COVID-19.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
