Zimbabwe Vice-President says current lockdown might not be extended but……..

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND MINISTER OF HEALTH, HONOURABLE GENERAL (RETIRED) DR. C. G. D. N. CHIWENGA ’GCZM’TO BE HELD ON 15 JANUARY 2021

I hope I find you well in this existential threat of the COVID 19 pandemic.

In as much as COVID 19 is affecting the whole world, Zimbabwe is also a victim of the devastating pandemic. As of 14 January 2021, we recorded a cumulative total of twenty five thousand three hundred and sixty-eight (25 368) Confirmed Cases, fourteen thousand seven hundred and fourteen (14 714) Recoveries and one thousand one hundred and twelve (1112) Active cases, while a total of forty-seven (47) people lost their lives, yesterday. Hitherto, Zimbabwe has a total of six hundred and thirty-six (636) COVID 19-inspired deaths. ‘Let’s observe a moment of silence for our departed beloved ones, friends and relatives.’

A detailed Summary of COVID-19 Statistics spanning from 24 December to date is indicated below:

In response to the current spike of COVID 19 cases, the Government introduced a raft of measures which include:

1. The Inter-ministerial National COVID 19 Taskforce continued to review the situation on a daily basis.
2. The Ministry of Health and Child Care and strategic Partners stepped up Awareness Programs across all media.
3. Imposed a 30-Day National Lockdown.
4. Revitalised Testing, Contact Tracing and Treatment of patients.
5. Mobilise and provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to our frontline workers.

Let me acknowledge that ‘Pandemics affect individuals, societies and states in their entirety and that no one is impervious to the threat.’ Admittedly, some of our Health Workers were infected by COVID 19, while others sadly ‘answered a sunset call.’ May their Dearest Souls Rest In Internal Peace. Government continues to mobilise PPEs to minimize the risk that our frontline workers are exposed to, in their selfless dedication to save lives.

It would be however, an exaggeration at this stage, to suggest that our Health institutions are overwhelmed by cases of COVID 19. Admittedly, the recent escalation of cases of the pandemic in the country caused a high demand for health care. Nonetheless, let me reassure citizens that Zimbabwe’s public and private health institutions still have adequate capacity to offer health services to all patients.

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