Zimbabwe Lockdown: Day 572 – WCOZ Situation Report

572 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 21st of October 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 132 540 after 53 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Bulawayo with 12 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on 20 October 2021 remained at 85 hospitalised cases: 5 New Admissions, 10 Asymptomatic cases, 58 mild-to-moderate cases, 13 severe cases and 4 cases in Intensive Care Units. Active cases go down to 1 102. The total number of recoveries went up to 126 776 increasing by 107 recoveries. The recovery rate remains at 96%. A total of 7 069 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 251 466. A total of 9 447 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 517 653. The death toll remained at 4 662, as there was 1 new death recorded.

Critical Emerging Issue

Slow Pace of Vaccination We highlight the continued slow pace of vaccination

We remain concerned that whist in comparison to others Zimbabwe vaccination is performing well, we continue to gauge against our own national standards as set in the National Vaccination Program which we continue to fail to meet. With the reduction to level 2 lockdown bringing increased socio economic activities, the low levels of vaccination still present a clear and present danger to the potential rise of the pandemic once more. We continue to urge support for increased vaccination uptake including expansion of vaccine mix, spread of vaccine centres to economic and social centres and a different messaging tools to ensure that those who seek vaccination are able to actually access vaccines.

• We call for the Government to support the storage facilities of vaccines in rural communities are marginalised communities in light of the slow vaccination drive.
• We call for Government to shed light on public concerns on the expiry rate of vaccines to dispel fears in the public domain.

Outstanding issues

Social Protection mechanisms during COVID-19

We continue to note with concern the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic on lives and livelihoods. Therefore, we continue to amplify our concern over the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 particularly that the majority of women in Zimbabwe and women-led households are facing the biggest impacts in food security, income loss, and care-giving burdens. We emphasize the need for a women-centred approach which prioritizes women’s access to social safety nets during COVID-19, taking due cognisance of the fact that a majority of women in the informal sector, such as the cross-border traders, have suffered severe loss of livelihoods.

• We continue to call for the resuscitation of the COVID-19 support scheme ? We amplify our calls for adequate funding of National Social Protection Policy Framework.
• We therefore urge Government to expand social safety nets and offset economic impacts for COVID19.
• We reinforce our calls for the provision of support for households who are no longer able to sustain themselves due to loss of livelihoods, especially women-led households.

Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe