Harare (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe on Thursday recorded 273 new Covid-19 cases, the biggest jump in infections since the first case was recorded late March.

Thursday’s cases take the country’s tally of confirmed cases to 1 362, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said.

In an update, the Ministry said 260 of the new Covid-19 infections were from local transmissions.

“Two–hundred and seventy –three (273) cases tested positive for Covid-19 today. These include returnees from South Africa (12), Mozambique (1) and 260 local cases who are isolated.

“Due to backlog of sample processing at NTBRL, Bulawayo Province has reported 231 cases today which were collected over the last seven days but were not processed. These cases will be distributed in the Epi-Curve according to dates the samples were collected,” it said.

The Health Ministry said three Covid-19 deaths were also reported in Bulawayo, bringing the country’s death toll to 23.

“Today we regret to report three deaths; (2) at community level and (1) at facility level. These deaths occurred in Bulawayo Province. The community deaths were detected during routine post mortem as part of our Covid-19 surveillance.

“Since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak on 20 March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 1 362; recovered 425, active cases 914 and 23 deaths,” said the Health Ministry.

In terms of the overall breakdown of cases, Bulawayo is leading with 419, followed by Harare at 389, Matabeleland South 160, Midlands at 102 and Masvingo at 60.

Zimbabwe is currently under level 2 of the nationwide lockdown meant to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Government has since announced intention to re-tighten the Covid-19 regulations following the spike in locally transmitted cases.

New Ziana