…authorities want
testing kits for each district
testing kits for each district
TellZim
Reporter
Reporter
Five of the 316
Covid-19 tests conducted throughout the country by 02 April were from Masvingo
province, with all of them coming back negative, TellZim has learnt.
Covid-19 tests conducted throughout the country by 02 April were from Masvingo
province, with all of them coming back negative, TellZim has learnt.
Addressing a press
briefing at Benjamin Burombo, the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs,
Ezra Chadzamira said people should, however, not grow complacent as the risk of
several positive cases remained very high.
briefing at Benjamin Burombo, the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs,
Ezra Chadzamira said people should, however, not grow complacent as the risk of
several positive cases remained very high.
“Of all the cumulative
number of tests conducted in the country, five were from this province. It is a
good thing that we have not had positive cases, but that should not make us too
comfortable since the risk remains very high,” said Chadzamira.
number of tests conducted in the country, five were from this province. It is a
good thing that we have not had positive cases, but that should not make us too
comfortable since the risk remains very high,” said Chadzamira.
The minister, who also
chairs the Masvingo Provincial Covid-19 Taskforce which comprises several subcommittees,
said authorities aimed to mobilise testing kits for each of the province’s
seven districts.
chairs the Masvingo Provincial Covid-19 Taskforce which comprises several subcommittees,
said authorities aimed to mobilise testing kits for each of the province’s
seven districts.
“The idea is to
capacitate each district to conduct its own tests as part of the decentralisation
of the testing process. The fight against the spread of coronavirus demands
more rigourous testing than what currently is happening,” Chadzamira said.
capacitate each district to conduct its own tests as part of the decentralisation
of the testing process. The fight against the spread of coronavirus demands
more rigourous testing than what currently is happening,” Chadzamira said.
Currently, all tests
are conducted at the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory in Harare.
are conducted at the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory in Harare.
Chadzamira said
authorities were currently seized with resource-mobilisation aimed at boosting
the isolation centre being created at Rujeko Clinic.
authorities were currently seized with resource-mobilisation aimed at boosting
the isolation centre being created at Rujeko Clinic.
Chadzamira said government
understood the damage that the national lockdown has wrought on livelihoods
especially on informal traders who survive hand-to-mouth. He said authorities
were looking at ways of allowing limited numbers of women to sell their
products at shopping centres in a controlled manner.
understood the damage that the national lockdown has wrought on livelihoods
especially on informal traders who survive hand-to-mouth. He said authorities
were looking at ways of allowing limited numbers of women to sell their
products at shopping centres in a controlled manner.
“Those who sell
perishables are the most hard-hit and we understand their pain. We are looking
at the feasibility of allowing a small number of women to sell each day,” he
said.
perishables are the most hard-hit and we understand their pain. We are looking
at the feasibility of allowing a small number of women to sell each day,” he
said.
South Africa, which is
also under lockdown, has now allowed informal food traders to do business, but they
are required to apply for a licence first.
also under lockdown, has now allowed informal food traders to do business, but they
are required to apply for a licence first.