Non-adherence behind Covid-19 local transmission spike Dr Manangazira

Fatima Bulla-Musakwa
THE current wave of positive Covid-19 cases being transmitted locally are mainly due to the behavior of people who are resisting to adhere to preventive measures put in place while commercial trucks are also conduits in spreading the infectious disease, an official in the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.

Speaking in a radio interview on Tuesday, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Portia Manangazira said in public spaces some people are not wearing masks covering both the nose and the mouth at all times to avoid the spread of Covid-19 to the next person even when an individual does not feel sick.

People are also expected to maintain a social distance of one metre in public spaces while also avoiding close contact with sick people in their homes.

Coupled with that is the requirement for people to wash their hands with water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

Where there is no soap, one is expected to use a hand sanitizer which contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

Contrary to these guidelines it has been evident especially in public spaces like queues for transport or in supermarkets that social distancing is hardly being maintained.

Just yesterday, police arrested 65 people in Borrowdale for violating Covid-19 regulations after gathering at premises where a money pyramid scheme is allegedly being operated.

Another form of resistance is noticeable were people opt to wear their masks covering their mouth only.

The number of local transmissions which stand at 3245 have long overtaken imported cases which are now 1094.

Harare has now been identified as the epicenter of Covid- 19 in the country with 1 670 cases recorded as at August 5 while Bulawayo follows at 1073.

Dr Managanzira said positive cases detected from the huge numbers of returnees from South Africa and Botswana contributed to Zimbabwe’s two major cities’ cases.

“But we have also had quite significant numbers retuning from the UK and United States of America. When the airlines stopped moving, we still had arrivals into Harare in terms of Ethiopian Airlines coming three times a week bringing Zimbabweans back home.”

She added that significant numbers have been detected in the returnees and this explains Harare and Bulawayo’s high numbers.

“Midlands is of concern because it’s sitting right in the middle of the country and yes there will be people moving. Commercial transport has also been an issue of concern. When borders were closed, commercial transport kept moving and there are quite significant numbers of trucks.

“In Beitbridge up to 800 trucks pass through, in Nyamapanda and Chirundu about 600 trucks each on a daily basis and they have various stops within the country.

“And we see that also as conduits of the spread of Covid-19 infections. That also explains Manicaland,” she said.

Thirty-nine people have succumbed to Covid-19 in Harare while Bulawayo has lost 23 people. Manicaland had recorded seven deaths.

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