Chronicle Editor
Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Correspondent
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has commended Zimbabweans for their cooperation which has helped in managing the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
In an interview yesterday, the director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Portia Manangazira, said the cooperation from both returning residents and locals had helped to keep Covid-19 cases in the minimum so far.
She said admitting returning residents to quarantine centres had helped in containing the virus, despite the unpopularity of the quarantine concept.
“Quarantining people is not something that we invoke easily in public health, it is only used in really serious scenarios, such as the one upon us at this time. Almost in every group of arrivals of our returning residents, we get a case or two. The quarantine centre concept has really served the country and public health. Imagine what would have happened if we had allowed all these people arriving to go straight to their families.
“We would be having a disaster and cases would have multiplied fast and would have gone way past the thousands. While it is unpopular, this is the best way to protect the health of the public and to try and contain the situation. We therefore commend Zimbabweans for the cooperation in the programme as it has helped save lives through keeping the cases at a minimum,” said Dr Manangazira.
As at Sunday afternoon, 56 cases of Covid-19 had been confirmed in the country, with five new cases including one returning resident from Botswana who is on isolation in Gweru, three Malawian illegal immigrants who were intercepted by security authorities in Beitbridge and are in isolation in Beitbridge while awaiting deportation to Malawi and one resident from Harare.
Dr Manangazira urged Zimbabweans to be vigilant and responsible as they play their part in the fight against Covid-19, whose victory she said was only possible through collective effort.
“We cannot stop our fellow Zimbabweans from coming back home from wherever it is that they are coming from because they are Zimbabweans and they want to come home. However, for the purposes of public health, they must be monitored closely and we expect people to be responsible enough to know what is at stake. Some countries are not even allowing people to come back home, but Zimbabweans are free to return home, but will be subject to be in quarantine, and be tested negative twice before they are allowed to leave the quarantine centre. A lot of people have come and more are still coming. This is therefore helping us keep the virus in check,” she said.
Mpilo Central Hospital Clinical director and Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the quarantine concept was the best thing that the health ministry did for public health and called on people to reciprocate by behaving responsibly to reduce chances of being infected.
“Winter is upon us; it is expected that cases will soar. The face mask has given people a false security of immunity and we are likely to see a lot more cases coming up. People must be vigilant and stay home. While lockdown rules have been relaxed for public convenience, people must still avoid all unnecessary travel. It is unsafe out there. As long as people do not follow regulations and advice from health experts.
“We may as well get coffins ready as people will die.
“Our hospitals are not yet fully equipped to cater for hundreds of patients, so people must not tempt fate but must by all means try to avoid a situation of being sick and them not having oxygen or ventilator to save their life.
“Government must also consider reverting to the more stringent measures, for the purposes of protecting citizens,” he said.
“People are walking around with their masks only covering the mouth, but with the nose out. People must be more responsible.” — @andile_tshuma
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