GOVERNMENT has assured Zimbabweans that it is ready to tackle the Coronavirus scourge head-on, and there is no need for citizens to panic, as the situation is under control.
Addressing journalists at the post-cabinet briefing, minister of information media and broadcasting services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said measures have been put in place to ensure that there is no spread of the virus.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care will continue to give updates on developments regarding the virus. The actions, activities, and programmes to address the adopted recommendations and Child Care on the national progress regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak, which commenced on 30 December 2019 in China and was upgraded to a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 31 January 2020,” she said.
Senator Mutsvangwa said the Ministry of Health and Child Care activated a surveillance system which includes following up of travellers to Zimbabwe who visited China and other affected countries.
“To date, 1 433 travellers have been reported to have passed through Zimbabwe’s ports of entry that are screening travellers. The Government of Zimbabwe has agreed with the Government of the Republic of China that these travellers be subjected to self-quarantine for a 21-day surveillance period, in order to ensure early detection of symptoms. The national response mechanism for surveillance and early detection of any possible cases remains activated, especially at all ports of entry in the country,” she said.
The government also assured citizens that treatment will remain open to cater to almost all provinces in the country.
“The main treatment centres will be situated at the Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital for the northern part of the country and Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital for the Southern region. The National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) was assessed and found to have the good testing capacity and is adequately equipped. Medicines for treatment have been identified locally and will be strategically positioned at the treatment centres. The Ministry of Health and Child Care is. currently working on modalities to ensure that adequate personnel for identification and management of cases, particularly at ports of entry, is trained and equipped for the arduous task ahead of them,” she said.
