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Zimbabwe like the rest of the world is on alert following the outbreak of the Corona Virus, Covid-19, that has spread like a wildfire around the globe.
We have had several suspects tested in Harare but fortunately they have all tested negative after tests in the country and outside our borders. However, this does not mean that we should be complacent.
Covid-19 is posing a serious threat to public health in many countries and we have been told that we should maintain personal hygiene and wash our hands especially, in addition to avoiding touching our eyes, mouth and nose, as we could transfer the virus from our hands into our system. These are the basic ways in which we can make our small contribution while experts search for lasting solutions. It is important at this point that everyone gets the right information so that we are empowered instead of being in panic mode due to ignorance. We are aware of the power of social media. We need to harness the power of social media to propagate the correct information about the infection instead of spreading alarm and despondency.
We are heartened that the country has taken measures to improve our preparedness to handle cases of Covid-19 should they be detected in the country, with Wilkins Hospital in Harare having already been used to quarantine suspects while Thorngrove in Bulawayo is also on standby should there be any case in this part of the country. Let us learn from the seriously affected countries how they are handling the outbreak and ensure that we pick the positives to avoid making mistakes that they possibly made when the infection first broke out. It does not mean that every flu-like infection is Covid-19 but there is no harm is getting checked especially if you had travelled or came into contact with people that travelled to affected countries recently. It is important to avoid crowded areas and also to know the recent travels of your associates since the infection is spread through contact or droplets when people cough or sneeze. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health observed this week that though the country’s preparedness was commendable, there were areas that needed to be addressed especially at our ports of entry where immigration and customs officials appeared to be at risk due to the nature of their work. This means that one patient coming in through the airport could infect the team at the airport that would in turn infect their families, and the families take the virus to workplaces, schools and so on.
In the meantime, let us avoid unnecessary travel out of the country, and stop spreading unsubstantiated reports of corona cases.
Most importantly, let us wash our hands several times in a day with soap to kill not just the coronavirus, but many other viruses and bacteria.
Online Reporter