Zim sees weekly drop in Covid-19 cases, deaths

Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe recorded 157 new Covid-19 cases in the week ending March 28, down 24 from the previous week, while deaths dropped to eight from nine during the same period.

On the other hand, the number of vaccinations surged by 25 217 compared to 5 069 during the seven-day period.

“The seven-day rolling average for new cases remains at 22 today (Sunday),” the Ministry of Health and Child Care said.

While the number of cases and deaths remain largely under control almost a month after government lifted a Level 4 lockdown that was aimed at containing run away infections, authorities have warned of a possible re-imposition of the stricter lockdown measures given noticeably high complacency levels in following laid down prevention protocols.

Health experts have red flagged a possible third wave.

Zimbabwe witnessed its highest levels of new infections and deaths in the month of January 2021, when the country experienced the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak.

Government last Wednesday launched the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme that has seen a huge leap in the number of people getting inoculated in the past four days.

The total number of people who got the first dose of the vaccination stood at 68 511 as at March 28, with 10 628 having received the second dose.

Zimbabwe has to date received 600 000 doses of the Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines and is expecting more in the short term from India and Russia.

The government is expecting to voluntarily vaccinate at least 60 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity.
New Ziana