Covid-19: Localised lockdowns on the cards

• ED makes rare speech on growing crisis
• Byo at risk, fast becoming a hotspot
• ‘250 have Covid at John Tallach High’
• Fears learners will cause rapid spread

By Kundai Marunya

Bulawayo is fast becoming the epicentre for Covid-19, registering high numbers of new infections over the past weeks with John Tallach High School, located some 40 km from the city, recording close to half of all cases in schools.
Sources in Bulawayo, where a closed door workshop is being held by officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), and the World Health Organisation (WHO), have revealed that 250 out of 604 students at John Tallach tested positive for Covid-19.
This is against 558 Covid-19 cases registered in schools countrywide.
The sources said presentations made by MoHCC officials revealed that Bulawayo was now considered the country’s epicentre for Covid-19.
“Bulawayo people have gone back to the old way of living. Parties and concerts have resumed. People are having braais and if things continue on that trend, they may have to consider a targeted lockdown,” one official is reported to have said.
Dr Isaac Phiri, the Lead Epidemiology Surveillance Operations Covid-19 Response and Deputy Director Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health, who is at the workshop, referred Nhau to the Permanent Secretary Retired Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza.
Chimedza, however, refused to comment, further referring questions to the ministry’s public relations department.
MoHCC public relations officer Donald Mujiri requested interview questions be sent via WhatsApp.
He had not responded to the questions by the time of publishing.
Speaking at the ZANU PF politburo meeting in the capital Wednesday, President Mnangagwa said “I will make a separate statement on the Covid-19 pandemic in our country”.
This follows the tightening of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa and most countries around the world ahead of the start of the Christmas holidays.
Various stakeholders have expressed concern over transmission of Covid-19 in the country, particularly in schools.
A recent report by Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) points to a “worrying foci of cases in schools”.
“Recent data points to widespread community transmission of Covid-19 in the country and worrying foci of cases in schools … secrecy, fear, and mistrust are also complicating the true assessment of the extent of Covid-19 in schools,” reads the report.
Experts that spoke to Nhau said the number of infections in the country is likely to increase as residents return from a hard-hit South Africa for holidays.
Bulawayo has a large number of residents working in the neighbouring country.
ZADHR called for a review in preparation of an imminent second wave.
“Testing rates must be urgently upscaled and made proportionate to the threat posed by a second wave of Covid-19, intensive care capacity for handling complicated cases assessed and where possible increased,” reads the report.
After schools close this Friday, students coming from the affected institutions, John Tallach included, will one way or the other mix with their families, neighbours and general public thus posing health risks.
Government has not announced any clear protocols on whether they will provide private transportation to these students, a point that irks Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary general Raymond Majongwe.
“The fact that schools are closing while we have not heard of any plan, attempt or mechanism to protect the general public from a possible infection from those coming from affected schools is worrying,” said Majongwe.
“We do not know whether they will be using public transport or if they will pass through town, whether their bags and possessions will be disinfected or if they will be isolated. The fact that Government is not worried is scary.”
Further, Majongwe said the country’s porous borders increased the danger of coronavirus infections in the country.
“At least 40 percent of people returning from neighbouring countries will sneak into the country through our various porous points of entry. Some may be carrying the Covid-19 virus,” said Majongwe.
“They will get into the country without being tested, interact with various students and teachers who could be relatives, neighbours or friends thus exposing them to dangers of infection.” Nhau/Indaba