Harare (New Ziana) – Government has banned its departments from holding face to face meetings in response to the rising Covid-19 cases, a Cabinet Minister has said.
In her weekly Post Cabinet Briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the number of new cases increased during the week under review, with 28 904 cases recorded compared to 5 055 cases the previous week.
She said an average of 4 014 new cases were reported per day compared to 723 cases the previous week.
As such, Cabinet agreed to new measures to contain the surge in infections.
“All Government departments will stop face to face meetings. All remaining end of year planning and other such critical meetings shall be held virtually,” she said.
“Communities at all levels are urged to remain vigilant and to continue adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures. Enforcement of all COVID-19 regulations at all levels will be strengthened and COVID-19 lockdown measures have been extended by another two weeks.”
Mutsvangwa said despite the sharp increase in new infections, the case fatality rate had gone down to 2.9 percent during the week under review from 3.4 percent the previous week.
“Prevention measures being implemented such as vaccination continue to contribute to the reduction in the severe impact of the virus,” she said.
“Areas that recorded the most significant number of new cases include Harare ( 8 363), Mashonaland East (3 546), Mashonaland West (2 992) and Bulawayo (2 670). The total number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported through the school surveillance system increased to 1 526 compared to 1 086 the previous week. There were no deaths reported. The cumulative total number of confirmed cases now stands at 5 711 with 4 893 learners and 818 staff members spread across 582 schools.”
New Ziana