Kwekwe (New Ziana) – The Kwekwe City Council has started work to convert a disused beer hall into a temporary infectious disease hospital to cater for suspected Covid-19 cases.

Zimbabwe currently has 2 confirmed cases of the deadly disease which has killed thousands of people globally.

In a statement, the Kwekwe City Council said Garandichauya beer hall in Mbizo Section 3 would be turned into a hospital using funds disbursed by government under the devolution programme.

The city does not have an infectious diseases hospital to effectively isolate and manage infectious diseases should they occur.
“The current COVID 19 pandemic has further buttressed the urgent need for the existence of such a facility in Kwekwe city,” the city fathers said.

“As we speak teams have started works and are on the ground tirelessly working on this project to have the hospital up and running in the shortest time possible.”

As part of its preparedness, the city is now conducting surveillance for COVID 19 suspected cases.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Kwekwe has placed a total of 51 travellers under surveillance.

“None of them have thus far developed symptoms and no cases of Coronavirus have been reported in Kwekwe. Currently, 20 travellers are under active surveillance with the rest having either been discharged after 21 days of surveillance or having travelled back to different places before developing any symptoms,” read the statement.

The local authority has so far activated the city health rapid response team (RRT) to be on high alert for COVID-19.

The city is also conducting health education and awareness campaigns in communities on the COVID 19 disease.
New Ziana