Over 5 000 people in Zimbabwe succumbed to COVID-19 related illnesses from the first death recorded on March 23, 2020 to the last day of 2022.
By Kuda Pembere
During the period under discussion, 260 146 cases were identified since the first case discovered on March 20, 2020. Recovery-wise, 254 067 have recovered between March 2020 to December 31, 2022.
As of today (31 December 2022), Zimbabwe has recorded 260 146 Cases, 254 067 recoveries and 5 639 Deaths,” read the Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 situation update of December 31, 2022.
On December 31, 2022, two people succumbed to the disease, while 34 recoveries were recorded with 46 new cases having been found.
“Forty-six new cases (All local) and two Deaths reported today. (7-day rolling average* for new cases rises to 29 from 26 (yesterday),” said the Health Ministry.
The COVID-19 vaccination blitz since commencement in February 2021 saw 12 820 635 doses administered by the end of 2022.
“Vaccination Update: 430 received the 1st dose today bringing cumulative for 1st dose to 6 585 846, 700 received their 2nd dose bringing cumulative for 2nd dose to 4 952 887 while 1 070 received their 3rd dose bringing cumulative for 3 rd. dose to 1 281 902.
“As of 30 December 2022, @1500hrs there were (19) hospitalized cases: New Admissions (0), Asymptomatic (3), mild to moderate (10), severe (2) and (4) in Intensive Care Units. 11 of the 11 hospitalized were vaccinated and 8 were not vaccinated,” the Health Ministry added. “Thirty-four new recoveries: National Recovery Rate remains at 98% & Active cases rises to 440.”
In a research by Dr Itai Chitungo et al, researchers said increased local human mobility contributed to the second wave, the UK variant later to be named the Beta Variant.
“While most first-wave cases of COVID-19 were largely imported from neighbouring countries and the UK, the second wave, which peaked in January 2021 due to SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.351 (Beta variant), was mainly the consequence of increased local human mobility resulting in a combination of clustering and sporadic and widespread community transmission,” the researchers said.
“At the peak of the second wave between 30 November 2020 and 31 January 2021, there were a total of 10,034 cases and a corresponding death toll of 960 at the most.”
Then came the Delta variant first identified in India which was more virulent and fatal. In August 2021, the delta variant reportedly account for 79 percent of Zimbabwean infections with the beta variant, first detected in South Africa ratching up 16 percent and the alpha strain, first seen in Britain, for 2,5 percent.
The introduction of the third wave into the country was linked to an imported case found to be a SARS-CoV-2 infection with the delta variant (B.1.617.2). The third wave peaked in July 2021 with a corresponding cumulative increase in COVID-19 cases from approximately 38,000 to 120,000 in two months.