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Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeHealthZim Targets 100 000 COVID-19 Tests In Communities

Zim Targets 100 000 COVID-19 Tests In Communities

Zimbabwean health authorities are planning to roll out an ambitious 100 000 COVID-19 tests in the ‘next few weeks’ as the country continues to record-breaking daily cases from the pandemic.

Last night Zimbabwe recorded 133 new positive cases from the coronavirus to leave the cumulative figure at 1611 cases while 25 people have also died.

To date, 101 375  rapid diagnostic test (RDT)tests have been conducted while 41 438 polymerase chain reaction (PCR have been conducted.

Harare City Council Director for health services, Dr Prosper Chonzi said the testing program will be at the community level and Harare alone will run about 30 000 tests.

“We are intensifying community testing for Covid-19 and at the moment our staff are busy pitching up tents to commence the process,” said Dr Chonzi.

Emirates

“We are doing this so that we know the extent of local transmissions and categorise them. We are expecting to run about 30 000 tests in the coming weeks and we are doing this with support from Higher Life Foundation and Mars,” said Dr Chonzi.

Dr Chonzi said the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases needs a pragmatic approach and a lockdown should be enforced.

“Looking at this exponential rise in cases and looking at the number of deaths and weaknesses in our health system, we need to look at issues of lockdown again for at least a week or two of complete lockdown so that we can get on top of the situation.

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“This might give us an opportunity to re-strategise so that we do not continue to have more cases,” said Dr Chonzi who is also a public health specialist.

 

 

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