THE number is people recovering from the COVID-19 disease in Zimbabwe has been on an upward trend over the past few days, a government minister has announced.
By Michael Gwarisa
Briefing Journalists this morning, Information, publicity and broadcasting services minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said even though the country is experiancing a surge in local transmissions, the number of recoveries was encouraging.
The cumulative rapid screening and PCR tests conducted as of 3 August, 2020 are 137 808 (73 174 RDT and 64 634PCR). The country has recorded a cumulative four thousand and seventy-five (4 075)confirmed COVID-19 cases compared to the previously reported 2704, which is a 51% increase, while the cumulative number of confirmed local cases has risen by 78% from the previously reported 1675 to 2982.
“Most of the local cases are in Harare(1299), Bulawayo (947), Midlands Province (245), Mashonaland East (161) and Manicaland (113). Recoveries have increased by 95% from 542 to 1057, while deaths increased by 122% from 36 to 80,” said minister Mutsvangwa.
She added that the number of tests done per week had been increased in light of the spike in COVID-19 cases.
“The number of PCR tests done per week has doubled with the average tests per day standing at 1,130 as compared to 559 from the week ending 24 July 2020. Seventy-five (75) percent of the tests are being conducted by the public sector.”
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure to curb the transmission of COVID-19 at food markets, which are characterized by crowding, poor sanitization and lack of reticulated water, Cabinet has come up with a number of measures:
(a) that the restructuring of the vegetable markets bays in line with COVID-19 protocols be done in all vegetable markets; (b) that markets operate a six-day-cycle with mandatory closure for disinfection on the seventh day; (c) that all vendors at stalls should exercise extreme precaution like the use of sanitisers and consistent hand-washing with soap and running water; and (d) that a targeted Information Education Campaign be conducted to promote a new-normal among traders and customers at these markets. Government will also come up with measures to be enforced in other places where people converge in large numbers.
