COVID-19 CASES SURGE TO 132

ZIMBABWE's confirmed COVID-19 cases more than doubled yesterday from 63 to 132, the biggest figure recorded in a day since the first case was reported in March. The new cases are from returness coming from South Africa and Botswana housed in quarantine centres in Beitbridge, Masvingo and Harare.

“Zimbabwe's #Covid19 positive cases have now spiked to 132,” government spokesperson Ndavaningi Mangwana said yesterday.

“The 76 new cases have been recorded in Beitbridge, Masvingo and Harare. All new cases except one have been registered among returnees from mainly SA and Botswana. Only one case is a local transmission.”

Recently, Health minister Obadiah Moyo said the country could experience a spike due to the imported cases which involve returnees, truck drivers and border jumpers. Most of them are coming from

South Africa, with over 24 000 cases, forming Africa’s hotspot.

Police on Tuesday said about 118 returnees had escaped from quarantine centres across the country, posing a huge risk of spreading the virulent novel virus. More returnees escaped from quarantine centres, with 18 recorded at Mkoba quarantine centre.

The current increase puts a damper on plans to re-open schools in about four weeks, according to a circular from the Education ministry.

Already, parents and guardians were divided over the move with many expressing concern over the safety of the children.

The ministry had said it would open the schools in a staggered manner and would start with examination classes.

Teachers unions were also against the re-opening of schools saying their members needed adequate protection as well as a risk allowance.

To date, 38 352 tests have been done with stakeholders calling for a massive screening of communities especially given more relaxed lockdown measures.

However, the country has been experiencing severe shortages of test kits with most facilities having run out of the kits which are critical in assessing the spread of the disease.

The Health ministry has advised members of the public to use masks properly.

“This means wearing masks tightly around the chin and top of the nose, to avoid touching the mask while it is on the face and to immediately remove a mask when it becomes wet,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the region the President of Tanzania John Pombe Magufuli has declared a ban on the use of face masks. He noted that use of face mask was causing great concern and anxiety among Tanzanians.

In the same communiqué, Magufuli approved normal operation of public transportation and also re-opening of schools.

Zambia's Health minister Chitalu Chilufya has tested positive for COVID-19. He becomes the second Cabinet minister to be infected after Information minister and government spokesperson Dora Siliya.

Chilufya has been at the forefront of the country’s fight against the virus among others, giving Press briefings on developments and announcing virus control measures.

Seven people have died from the disease in Zambia which has recorded 920 cases and 336 recoveries.