…as Zim enters danger zone
TellZim Reporter
As
the wave of coronavirus continues to sweep across the country leaving bodies in
its wake, the acting minister of Health and Child Care Professor Amon Murwira
has called on Zimbabweans to remain vigilant and treat every person as a
suspect in order to curb the spread of the virus.
Murwira
said though the world is pinning its hopes on a possible medical breakthrough,
Zimbabweans should change their behavior so as to beat the pandemic.
“Our
cases are growing daily and the number of local transmissions is worrying.
Recent developments have shown us that the virus is here and will not take any
prisoners if our people are not careful.
“All
we have is ourselves and no one will come to rescue us. Our people need to
understand that Covid-19 is not a joke.
“There
is still too much reluctance when it comes to Covid-19 and people still think
it is a joke. That mentality will put lives at risk. At this stage, it is safe
to assume that every other person has the virus and you have to protect
yourself,” said Murwira.
He
said there are a lot of people who are crossing into the country illegally and
are being harbored by their relatives so that they avoid quarantine.
“People
are coming back from abroad through illegal means and some are being smuggled
in by truck drivers and will secretly go to their homes and lay low.
“By
doing so, the lives of those people harboring a returnee will be in danger and
they will only realize that when it is late.
“We
will not beat this monster if we do not change our behavior. There is no
science that can beat that. The world is looking at a medical breakthrough but
there is no science that can beat behavioral change. People should wash their
hands, put on face masks in public and avoid unnecessary movements,” said
Murwira.
Testing
in the country remains low but the government has said it has plans to
intensify testing so that they can get an appreciation of the extent to which
the virus has spread.
Since
the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak on March 20, 2020, Zimbabwe has recorded 2
704 Covid-19 cases and thirty six (36) deaths as at July 28.
