Zim records 26th Covid-19 death

Harare, (New Ziana) –Zimbabwe on Monday recorded its 26th Covid-19 death as more companies announced closure of part of their operations after staff were infected as local transmission of the virus peaks.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care said a 71-year old woman died in Matabeleland North province on a day the country registered 102 new cases, to take the tally of confirmed cases to 1 713.

This was the second consecutive day in which the country recorded over 100 new cases after 133 people died on Sunday.

“Today we regret to report one death at community level in Matabeleland North province,” the Ministry said.

“The death is a 71-year old female who was detected during a routine post mortem as part of our Covid-19 surveillance.”

Of the 102 new cases on Monday, 81 were due to local transmission, a development confirming the wild fire spread of the virus in communities as more than seven companies, schools and churches confirmed shutting down part of their operations after workers and parishioners were infected.

Medical aid societies, PSMAS and Cimas were among the first to reveal that some of their staff had been infected, with Federal Express Zimbabwe, sugar producer Starafricacorporation and banks, NMB and CABS also following suit.

Watershed College and the Roman Catholic Church in Harare have also been affected, with the list growing.

The government has since said it is tightening lockdown measures to curtail the spread of the disease, with essential workers only being allowed in Central Business Districts.

Complacence by the public in adhering to set guidelines such as mandatory wearing of masks and social distancing has been blamed for the skyrocketing new infection cases.
New Ziana