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Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
THE Eastern and Southern Africa region (ESAR) is under siege from Covid-19 with latest statistics showing increases in the number of cases.
This calls for urgent attention if countries are to successfully put a plug and curb the spread of the virus.
Southern Africa which comprises countries like Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique are currently accountable for over 322 000 positive cases of Covid-19, according to the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
East Africa is standing at 50 100 Covid-19 positive cases.
Regrettably about 4 700 people have succumbed to the virus in the Southern region of the continent while over 1300 people in the Eastern parts have lost their lives from the deadly virus.
Africa CDC notes that South Africa accounts for 4 500 deaths which is the highest in the region while the Eastern part has recorded about 1300 deaths.
There are calls by various sectors to exercise extreme caution in Southern Africa as cases are increasing by the day.
Zimbabwe stands at 20 deaths as of Wednesday’s Covid-19 update from the Ministry of Health and Child Care while 674 cases are still active. A total of 395 people have recovered from the virus. President Mnangagwa warned of further restrictions saying any needed measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections would be put in place.
South Africa opened up schools recently, a move many felt was premature as thousands of learners tested Covid-19 positive.
This is despite the country having the highest number of recoveries in the region standing at 106 700 cases.
Sudan in the east, has recorded 668 deaths from the virus, the highest so far followed by Kenya which has 209 deaths.
Kenya announced last week that they had shelved reopening of schools to 2020.
“The school calendar of this year will be considered lost due to Covid-19,” said Education Secretary George Magoha earlier in the week.
He, however, said examination classes would sit later in the year for the examinations.
The country has confirmed over 8000 infections since March when their first case was discovered.
Zimbabwean Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Cde Monica Mutsvangwa announced on Tuesday that schools which were meant to open on July 28 2020 have also been deferred to a later date following the surge in positive cases in the country.
The number of local Covid-19 transmission cases in Zimbabwe continues to rise after 22 cases were recorded on Wednesday.
This comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued a warning to Zimbabwe that local Covid-19 transmissions could ground the health sectors if citizens remain blind to increasing figures.
According to the latest statistics provided by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, 25 cases tested positive on Wednesday bringing the overall total of Covid-19 cases recorded in the country to 1089.
Online Reporter