Harare (New Ziana) – The City of Harare has said it requires at least $15 million to be fully prepared to deal with an outbreak of coronavirus, in the event it does.

The virus, which has killed more than 2,700 people in China where it originated, is rapidly spreading around the world, but no case has yet been recorded Zimbabwe.

According to the Harare City Council’s Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee minutes presented at last week’s full council meeting, the city is inadequately prepared to deal with an outbreak of COVID-19.

The government has designated Wilkins Hospital, one of the city council’s medical facilities, a treatment centre for coronavirus in the event of an outbreak.

So far, only one suspected case was referred to the health facility.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Considering this declaration of a PHEIC, the City of Harare needed to be prepared to manage the situation and also institute surveillance for travellers,” the city council said.

“To be fully prepared, the City Health Services department needs a budget of around ZWL$10-15 million which is required in stages and not all at once,” it added.

The Council resolved to put more effort towards managing the outbreak should Harare record any coronavirus case.

“Council resolved that the Director of Health Services be allowed to put measures in place to prepare for the outbreak,” the local authority said.

New Ziana