More nurses and additional staff to conduct PCR tests are being recruited urgently to cope with the rising number of people infected with Covid-19 while Gweru joins Bulawayo and Harare as a declared Covid-19 hotspot, with the possibility of intensified localised lockdowns in the worst affected suburbs now being considered.
The bulk of the extra 1 000 confirmed cases in the past week have been in the three cities.
Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet agreed that there will be no gatherings for the 2020 Heroes Day Commemorations and the Defence Forces Day Celebrations, and that President Mnangagwa will address the nation using the virtual platforms.
The virtual celebrations will take place over a period of two weeks and be covered by the ZBC which will extensively feature the Zimbabwe Defence Force’s exploits, community assistance projects and the Defence Forces Medical Outreach Programme.
The 2020 Heroes Day commemorations will be held under the theme “Remembering our Heroes” on August 10, the Defence Forces Day celebrations will be held on August 11, 2020 under the theme “ZDF: Celebrating 40 years of Excellent Service to the People”.
On the latest health developments, Minister Mutsvangwa said: “Cabinet notes, with concern, that the on-going strike in the health sector is negatively affecting the national Covid-19 response. More nurses will be urgently recruited from the available pool of qualified nurses, while processes to resolve those on industrial action continue.
“In addition, to strengthen the Covid-19 response, Government will recruit additional staff to run PCR tests, including unemployed graduates.
“Modalities are also being put in place to enable industrial and innovation hubs to produce Viral Transport Media, a critical ingredient in PCR tests currently in short supply.
“Cabinet approved to expedite the secondment and recruitment of additional staff such as nurses, laboratory scientists so as to strengthen the health delivery system and national response to the Covid-19 outbreak,’ she said.
There are now 2 817 confirmed Covid-19 positive cases by last night, compared to 1 713 cases reported on July 20.
The latest figures last night from the Ministry of Health and Child Care showed that the death toll has risen to 40, with the deaths of two 40-year-old men, a man aged 59 and a woman aged 50. Two of the deaths were in Manicaland and one each in Harare and Mashonaland East.
