COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
 | This article is about a current disease pandemic where information can change quickly or be unreliable. The latest page updates may not reflect the most up-to-date information. |
| 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Zimbabwe |
| Index case | Victoria Falls |
| Arrival date | 20 March 2020 (4 years, 2 months and 6 days) |
| Confirmed cases | 13[1] |
| Recovered | 0 |
Deaths | 3 |
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was confirmed to have reached Zimbabwe in March 2020.
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[2][3]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[4][5] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[6][4]
Timeline
March 2020
Zimbabwe saw its first COVID-19 case from a male resident of Victoria Falls who travelled back from the UK via South Africa on 15 March.[7] No deaths have been reported initially as erroneously indicated in some sources since the patient continues with self-isolation at home and showing signs of recovery.[8]
Two more cases in the country were confirmed on 21 March, both cases were in Harare.[9] On the 23 March, it was confirmed that noted Zimbabwean journalist Zororo Makamba was the first person in the country to pass away from the virus.[10][11][12]
April 2020
After Zororo's death, two more people have died taking the number of deaths to three.[13] Due to a shortage of protective medical equipment Zimbabwean doctors filed a lawsuit against the government so that they are adequately protected when treating infected patients.[14]
Prevention measures
Before there were any confirmed cases in the country, President Emmerson Mnangagwa had declared a national emergency, putting in place travel restrictions and banning large gatherings.[15][16] The country's defence minister Oppah Muchinguri caused controversy by stating the coronavirus could be a divine punishment on Western nations for imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe.[17]
On March 23, President Mnangagwa announced additional measures: 1) closure of Zimbabwe's borders to all non-essential travel, except for returning residents and cargo; 2) closure of bars, nightclubs, movie houses, swimming pools, and sporting activities; 3) restriction of all public gatherings to fewer than 50 people; and 4) restriction of hospital visits to no more than one per day.[18][19] On March 27 the government announced that the country would go into a nationwide lockdown for 21 days from the 30 March onwards.[20]
References
- ^ HealthZW, Ministry of (10 April 2020). "COVID-19 Update: As at 10 April Zimbabwe had 13 confirmed cases, including three (3) deaths.pic.twitter.com/vFU9zDOMr6". @MoHCCZim. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ Marsh, Kevin Rawlinson (now); Sarah; Quinn, Ben; Perraudin, Frances; Farrer (earlier), Martin; Greenfield, Patrick; Cowie, Sam; Wintour, Patrick; Wintour, Patrick; Willsher, Kim (20 March 2020). "Coronavirus live updates: global cases top quarter of a million, as Italy sees biggest daily rise in deaths". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "BREAKING NEWS: Zimbabwe Confirms Its First Case Of Coronavirus… More Results Pending". iharare.com. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "BREAKING: Two new coronavirus cases confirmed in Harare". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ Maphanga, Canny (23 March 2020). "Journalist Zororo Makamba becomes Zimbabwe's first Covid-19 death". News24. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Journalist is first person in Zimbabwe to die from Covid-19". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ Daniels, Lou-Anne (23 March 2020). "Media personality Zororo Makamba becomes first Zimbabwe coronavirus fatality". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ HealthZW, Ministry of (8 April 2020). "COVID-19 Update: As at 8 April Zimbabwe had 11 confirmed cases, including three (3) deaths.pic.twitter.com/pNuyCrNBDM". @MoHCCZim. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Zimbabwe doctors sue over 'dire shortage' of protective gear". News24. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Zimbabwe, Namibia Declare National Emergencies Over Virus". Bloomberg. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "Zimbabwe's President declares COVID-19 a national disaster". Xinhua. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "Zimbabwe, Namibia Declare National Emergencies Over Virus". GulfNews. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ Chirisa, Sharon (24 March 2020). "Coronavirus Zim Update: Ministry Of Health Statement". iHarare. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ Chingono, Nyasha; Busari, Stephanie (24 March 2020). "Prominent 30-year-old Zimbabwe broadcaster dies of coronavirus". CNN. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Zimbabwe to go on total lockdown from Monday to combat coronavirus". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
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