Harare (New Ziana) – At least 78 new COVID-19 cases were recorded at a certain boarding school in Matabeleland South Province on Friday, continuing a worrying trend in infections being identified in schools.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Health and Child Care also reported 55 positive cases at an unnamed boarding school in Umzingwane district in the same province

Friday’s new infections at the unnamed school made up the bulk of the 95 new Covid-19 cases that the country recorded on the day, the highest number of positive cases registered since the second wave ended over a month ago.

“95 new cases (all local) and three deaths reported in the last 24 hours (seven-day rolling average for new cases rises to 22 today (Friday) from 15 yesterday (Wednesday),” the ministry said.

“Seventy eight (78) cases are from one boarding school in Matabeleland South.”

Schools opened for the first term of the year late last month after a Covid-19 precautionary delay of three months following warnings of a potential third wave.

Since the re-opening, one other school, Prince Edward in Harare, reported that at least seven of its students had tested positive for the Coronavirus.

As part of the wider measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19, government has directed schools with a higher number of students to implement a rotational time table that allows pupils to attend class on different days to allow them to practice social distancing.

As at April 9, Zimbabwe had recorded 37 147 positive cases and 1 535 deaths, and with a vaccination drive underway, over 178 000 people have received the first dose.

“(At least) 11 694 received their first dose today (Friday) bringing cumulative for first dose to 178 237 while 834 received their second dose bringing cumulative for second dose to 27 968,” the Ministry said.
New Ziana