The Ministry of Health and Child Care on Monday said to date, Zimbabwe still has 9 confirmed cases, including one death although the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested 9 samples, all which tested negative for COVID-19.
Monday is the seventh day of the 21-day Total Lockdown period in Zimbabwe.
‘During this lockdown period and in line with guidance from WHO, the Ministry of Health and Child Care is prioritising finding, testing, isolation and treatment of every case in the country as well as tracing every contact as key strategies to identify all suspected cases and minimise community spread of COVID-19,’ the Ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry, in the statement, said the country continues to be on High Alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and reminded the Nation that the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to:
-Frequently clean hands with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand sanitiser/rub
-Cover nose and mouth with tissue paper or a flexed elbow when coughning or sneezing -Mainitain a distance of at least 1 metre from people who are coughing or sneezing -Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth ‘The Ministry would like to advise the nation that masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-washing or cleansing with alcohol based sanitiser/handrub or soap and water.
‘If you decide to use a mask, cover your mouth and nose, and make sure that there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
‘Avoid toughing the mask while using it: If you do clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
‘If masks are not used correctly, they can be a source of infection,’ read the statement.
The Ministry urged people to stay at home and not to travel.
