ZIMBABWE has recorded 1365 new COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths in the past 24 hours, the highest COVID-19 death rate since the pandemic was reported in Zimbabwe in March 2020.
By Michael Gwarisa
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Daily Sitrep of January 5, 2021, the 1365 were local transmissions.
1365New Cases and 34Deaths reported in the last 24 hours. (7 day rolling average* for new cases further spikes to 552 from 383 yesterday). All 1365 are local cases : 777 from Harare alone (Deaths locations are shown in the table). 4880 PCR tests done today(Positivity today was 28%)•97 new recoveries reported: National Recovery rate stands at 69% and Active cases go up to 4963 today•As of 5 January 2021, Zimbabwe has now recorded17194 Cases11813 recoveries and 418Deaths.
Meanwhile, the country has since gone into level 4 lockdown and extended a nationwide curfew, banned gatherings and ordered non-essential businesses closed for a month on Saturday in an effort to curb a surge in coronavirus infections.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also health minister, said some of the tighter restrictions were effective immediately and included a 6pm to 6am curfew and a ban on inter-city travel. From Tuesday, non-essential businesses would also be suspended, he said
