Covid-19: 278 new cases, seven deaths reported

Health Reporter

Although Zimbabwean schools remain under enhanced prevention and control measures, cases of Covid-19 continue being recorded and are contributing to the new cases being reported in the country daily.

Yesterday, 278 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths were recorded, taking the total number of active cases up to 2 448.

Out of the new cases, 40 percent were recorded in schools with institutions in Mashonaland East reporting 19 cases, while those in Midlands reported 14, Manicaland 7, Masvingo 41, Matabeleland North 12 and Bulawayo 17.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care daily situation report, the seven-day rolling average for new cases fell to 235 from 255 the previous day.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister yesterday said areas previously declared hotspots had been reporting fewer cases over the last three weeks due to the effective control measures and protocols put in place by Government.

This has resulted in a decline in the number of people in need of hospitalisation for COVID-19, with the country’s hospital bed-occupancy rate decreasing from 6.9 percent the previous week to 5.6 percent this week.

As at September 20, there were 103 hospitalised cases, of which three were new admissions, five were asymptomatic, 73 with mild to moderate symptoms, 16 had severe illness and 9 in were in Intensive Care Units.

The national recovery rate rose to 95 percent.

Since March last year, Zimbabwe has recorded 128 464 Covid-19 cases, 121 440 recoveries and 4 576 deaths.