718 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 16th March 2022, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 243 650 after 285 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 56 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 15 March 2022, was: 62 hospitalised cases: 10 New Admissions, 6 Asymptomatic cases, 50 mild-to-moderate cases, 6 severe cases and 0 cases in Intensive Care Unit. 20 of the 62 hospitalized were vaccinated and 42 were not vaccinated. A total of 5 210 people received their 1st dose of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 4 406 660. A total of 4 134 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 3 435 409. A total of 4 401 people received their 3rd dose of vaccine shots bringing the cumulative for 3rd doses to 165 108. Active cases went down to 4 968. The recovery rate goes up to 96%. The total number of recoveries went up to 233 264 increasing by 477 recoveries. The death toll went up to 5 418, after 1 new death was recorded.
Area of Concern
Vaccination Critical to Emerging Out of Lockdown
We highlight our on-going concern at the slow pace of vaccination. We highlight the hospitalisations rates being driven largely by unvaccinated persons contracting COVID-19. We raise attention to the high rate of cases still being driven primarily by cases in education facilities. We call attention to the need to expand the vaccination blitz once more to the adult population broadly and to undertake targeted and inaccessible vaccination programs in high traffic areas. Continue to highlight the increased socio-economic activities driven a return to normalcy in day-to-day life.
- We call for fresh and invested messaging and public health communication to support vaccination.
- We continue to call for expanded vaccination drives that are responsive to the socio-economic context.
- We urge mobile vaccination for the adult population and the vulnerable.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
