Zim in record 72% COVID-19 recoveries

ZIMBABWE has recorded a 72% COVID-19 recovery rate with 4 105 people out of the infected 5 378 recovering after the implementation of the new World Health Organisation guidelines which stipulate that an asymptomatic patient should be removed from isolation after 10 days without showing symptoms.

In 24 hours, there were 1 756 recoveries, with Harare accounting for 1 698.

COVID-19 chief co-ordinator Agnes Mahomva said the huge figure was due to delays in data collation.

“We have been working with small teams and little resources, so monitoring of all the patients on self-isolation was a challenge,” she said.

Mahomva said this had, however, improved and they had put in place better strategies to keep track of recovered cases and report on time.

“The public should not panic and, like we have said previously, 85% to 90% will recover,” she said.

A medical doctor from the Health ministry, Marvin Venge, said the new guidelines were a bit relaxed compared to the previous ones.

“Initially when COVID-19 hit us hard, we used to say two DNA PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests were required before one could be said to have recovered,” he said.

Venge said over 80% of the positive COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic and would not require hospitalisation.

“These are able to self-isolate at home and those with moderate symptoms would need guidance from the health facilities or their doctors,” he said.

But stakeholders have cautioned against celebrating too soon and called on the public to remain vigilant.

Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive officer Solwayo Ngwenya said the country was still not out of the woods.

“The virus is spreading exponentially and currently, it is a bit weaker. Once it gains its strength or mutates, it will visit you and leave you in no doubt,” he said.

Meanwhile, Matabeleland South province now has the highest number of active cases at 288, followed by Bulawayo with 253 and Harare 234.

Masvingo, which has still not recorded a single COVID-19 death, now has seven cases after five new cases were added on Monday.

Regionally, South Africa has 589 886 cases and 11 982 deaths, but the number of active cases has gone down to 100 233.

The number of cases across the globe now stands at 22 million, with 776 000 deaths.