Zim records 95% Covid-19 recovery rate

Harare(New Ziana)- Zimbabwe has recorded a 95 percent recovery rate for the confirmed Covid-19 cases, a Cabinet Minister said on Tuesday.

Addressing a post Cabinet media briefing, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said as of 16 October 2020, Zimbabwe had recorded a total of 8 099 COVID-19 cases, 7 673 recoveries, and 231 deaths.

“The national recovery rate is 95 percent. Six thousand seven hundred and twelve (6 712) of the COVID-19-positive cases are local transmissions. New cases for week 41 stood at 105, compared to 207 in week 40,” she said.

Regarding the supply of testing consumables, Mutsvangwa said there are 21 080 Gene Xpert cartridges in stock are sufficient for over six months, giving room for the country to stock up on other consumables required.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care is updating guidelines on the wearing of face masks by children in order to strengthen the control and prevention of infection in schools and communities,” she said.

Mutsvangwa said Cabinet noted that there has been an increase in demand for disposable masks and sanitisers following the recent re-opening of schools for examination classes.

“There are adequate stocks of most locally produced PPEs and medicines for supportive management of COVID-19 cases, and satisfactory quantities of raw materials for increased production in the event of a surge in demand,” she said.

Zimbabwe re-opened it’s skies for domestic and international flights on October 1st after a six month long hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mutsvangwa said government has since deployed teams to monitor the country’s preparedness to reopen land border posts which were closed when the country imposed national COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

“Monitoring teams have been dispatched to Beitbridge, Plumtree, Kazungula, Victoria Falls, Kariba, Chirundu, Nyamapanda and Forbes border posts to assess the state of preparedness of the country land ports of entry to handle increased human and vehicular traffic,” she said.

Mutsvangwa added: “Cabinet continues to remind citizens that COVID-19 regulations are there to protect them and prevent the spread of the pandemic, and should be adhered to.”

New Ziana