Zimbabwe coronavirus cases shoot to 2 704, two die, more companies affected

Two people from Manicaland, a man and a woman, died of coronavirus today as the country recorded 192 more cases pushing the death toll to 36 and the total number of cases to 2 704.

Only three of the cases reported today were from returning residents. The remainder were local transmissions which now stand at 1 675 while imported cases are now way down at 1 029.

Twenty-four people, 20 of them from Matabeleland South, recovered from the virus. Total recoveries now stand at 542 while the number of active cases now stands at 2 126.

The national news agency, New Ziana, reports that more Zimbabwean companies and institutions today reported cases of coronavirus infections which have seen them temporarily halting operations in a development that is expected to take a heavy toll on the economy.

Observers say the jump mainly point to a failure by the public to follow laid down regulations concerning hygiene, wearing of masks and social distancing, prompting a wildfire spread of local infections of the disease.

Today, pension fund, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (NSSA), Pick’n Pay, Avenues Clinic and the Parliament of Zimbabwe joined the growing list of institutions that have recorded positive cases of coronavirus.

“The results so far have revealed six positive samples amongst our staff members,” the IBDZ said, adding it would close its office in Harare for three days to allow for disinfection.

NSSA said an employee had tested positive forcing, the closure of its Harare head office.

Two Parliamentarians tested positive, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said, while at the Avenues Clinic, at least eight staff members were said to have been infected.

A long list of firms including Econet, retailer OK Zimbabwe, Federal  Express, medical aid societies Cimas and PSMAS have already closed part of their operations after employees were affected.

Government has tightened lockdown regulations to curtail unnecessary citizens’ movement to reduce the spread of the disease but cases continue to spike owing largely to disregard of health regulations that have been put in place.

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