Zimbabwe records 4 coronavirus deaths as Health ministry warns of surge in cases

Zimbabwe yesterday recorded four coronavirus deaths as the Ministry of Health warned of an anticipated surge in the number of cases as the country approaches the festive season.

Two of the deaths were in Mashonaland East, one in Bulawayo and another in Manicaland. This pushed the death toll to 326.

There were 122 new cases, the highest number of 43 being in Manicaland, followed by Matebeleland South with 42. Cases to date now stand at 12 544.

There were only 47 recoveries, 33 of them in Bulawayo resulting in the number of active cases increasing to 2 059.

Harare now has the highest number of active cases at 485. It had no new cases yesterday. Bulawayo has 481 and is followed by Matebeleland South with 350.

Apart from coronavirus, the Ministry of Health said the public should be on the lookout for other health emergencies like outbreaks of typhoid fever, cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases associated with the rainfall season, an increase in malaria cases, road traffic accidents, flooding, drowning and lightning.

It said the public should take the following precautions to prevent these diseases and emergencies:     

Prevent COVID-19 this coming festive season by:

• Maintaining social distancing

• Correct wearing of facemasks at all times

• Avoiding public gatherings

• Carryout frequent correct handwashing with soap and sanitizing

• Avoid unnecessary travel outside your home and area of residence

Prevent typhoid fever this coming festive season by:

• Drinking safe water (boiled or treated with water guard, aqua tabs or jik)

• Washing your hands thoroughly with soap or ash under running water

• Avoiding buying/eating food from undesignated places

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