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Despite the significant contribution by the education sector to the recent increase in Covid-19 cases, schools will remain open and learners who are isolated will be provided with alternative learning platforms, a senior government official has said.
Speaking during a Post-Cabinet briefing meeting on Tuesday, the Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said all cases were being well-managed in line with the Standard Guidelines for the Coordinated Prevention and Management of COVID-19 at All Learning Institutions in Zimbabwe.
In an effort to try and curb the spread of the deadly virus in schools, the government is putting in place effective preventive measures.
“All cases are being well-managed in line with the Standard Guidelines for the Coordinated Prevention and Management of COVID-19 at All Learning Institutions in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, most cases among learners are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms.
“Government has, therefore, instituted the following measures to contain the COVID-19 surge in schools which include enhancement of surveillance and contact-tracing at schools and in the surrounding communities; increasing on-site COVID-19 testing of all suspected cases, contacts, and surrounding communities,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The government has instituted isolation and management of all COVID-19-positive cases; quarantining of those exposed; restriction of movement into and out of the affected schools until the outbreaks have been controlled; enhancement of public health and social protocols, including social distancing, hand washing, sanitization and wearing of face masks.
It has also instituted empowering teachers to detect and report suspected cases; enhancement of awareness campaigns in schools and surrounding communities; and vaccination of all eligible populations in schools and surrounding communities.
The Cabinet was also briefed that as of 20 September 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 127 938, with 120 946 recoveries and 4 567 deaths. The recovery rate stood at 95%, with 99% of cases being attributable to local transmission. Active cases stood at 2 425.
This week the number of cases recorded went up to 1 669.
Minister Mutsvangwa said out of total school enrolment of 4.6 million, the number of COVID-19-positive cases detected is insignificant.
“Cabinet is pleased to advise that cases in areas previously declared hotspots decreased significantly over the last 21 days and continue declining, due to the effective COVID-19 control measures and protocols put in place by Government.
“Treasury has also consistently provided the much-needed financial resources for the mitigation measures, with ZW$34.2 billion having been availed so far. These measures have, in general, seen a sustained decrease in the number of people in need of hospitalization for COVID-19, with the country’s hospital bed-occupancy rate decreasing from 6.9% the previous week to 5.6% this week.
