By Lorraine Ndebele
The Level 2 Lockdown will be maintained for a further two weeks, Cabinet announced on Tuesday as authorities urged citizens to continue adhering to stipulated Covid-19 measures and protocols.
As of 18 October 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 132 405, with 126 487 recoveries and 4 659 deaths.
The recovery rate remained at 95%, with the number of active cases standing at 1 259. Globally there have been
242,033,650 confirmed cases and 4,922,065 deaths.
In a post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister of Information and publicity, Monica Mutsvanga said given the intensity and duration of Covid-19 citizens should continue to observe Covid-19 protocols and preventive measures in order to prevent a fourth wave.
“Law enforcement agents together with the Public Service Commission will continue to strictly enforce the Covid-19 containment measures, especially the vaccination requirements pertaining to gatherings, opening of bars and night clubs, and the requirement for civil servants to be vaccinated in order to be allowed to report for work,” said Mutsvanga.
“Similarly, in spite of the declining cases of Covid-19 cases the Level 2 Lockdown will be maintained for a further two weeks and members of the public should strictly adhere to the stipulated measures,” she added.
Mutsvangwa further said the number of cases recorded on a daily and weekly basis continued to decline, with all provinces recording a decline in Covid-19-positive cases, indicating that the national response efforts continue to pay off and that the pandemic is being brought under control.
Turning to the vaccination drive, Cabinet said a consignment of medical equipment such as ventilators, multiparameter monitors, syringe pumps, infusion pumps and intensive care unit beds have been purchased and distributed to central hospitals in the country.
Under the national Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, 3 228 506 people have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as at 18 October, 2021, while 2 486 318 had received their second dose.
These figures translate to a national coverage of 37.9% for the first dose and 29.1% for the second dose.
“A vaccination campaign involving the local leadership has been introduced in Chitungwiza to raise the vaccination levels in the dormitory town. Similar campaigns will be conducted in most cities led by provincial taskforce teams,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Members of the public are therefore urged to get vaccinated as this will go a long way in mitigating the severity of the disease and curtailing its spread, thereby reducing the chances of a fourth Covid-19 outbreak in the country.”
