By Nyashadzashe Ndoro
There is now a 61% dominance of the new South African variant of the Covid-19 virus which spreads faster and has a higher fatality rate, says Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
Speaking during a post cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday, Mutsvangwa said results of the genomic sequencing recently conducted indicated that the type of Covid-19 virus that the nation had in 2020 has receded while the South African type is dominating in Zimbabwe.
Mutsvangwa said the nation now needed to be more vigilant in adherence to Covid-19 regulations. She added that the country’s security personnel had been directed to “intensify monitoring and enforcement in order to enhance compliance.”
“Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that results of the genomic sequencing recently conducted indicate that the type of Covid-19 virus that the nation had in 2020 has receded.
“There is now a 61% dominance of the new South African variant of the Covid-19 virus which spreads faster and has a higher fatality rate,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Accordingly, the nation now needs to be more vigilant than before and adhere to Covid-19 prevention and control measures. Security personnel have therefore been directed to intensify monitoring and enforcement in order to enhance compliance.”
Mutsvangwa said the cabinet endorsed the decision made by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend the national lockdown by a further two weeks, ordering schools to remain closed and announcing new curfew hours from 8pm to 5:30 am while operating hours for businesses have been extended to 5pm.
“In view of the realisation that infection and death rates are still high despite a downward trend, cabinet endorsed His Excellency the President’s decision to extend the Level Four lockdown measures for a further two weeks,” she added.
On Monday morning Zimbabwe received the first consignment of 200 000 Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccines to fight the deadly coronavirus disease, thanks to the People’s Republic of China.
Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga and Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun received the doses that arrived aboard an Air Zimbabwe jet at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
The country’s health care frontliners, ports of entry employees, school teachers are among the first groups of citizens set to receive the jabs. Nehanda Radio
Sorry to say. Who is supposed to give update on this? What’s the duty of health officials? Is this madam Mutsvangwas duty to give us these updates
Obert Mutetwa do you want update or something else
Obert Mutetwa She is the Minister of Information.
Obert Mutetwa dai tina minister of health chaiye chaiye zvaitaurwa na minister iyeye. Zvino angoda kumuka achitaura pfocho nezvaasingazive anongo rotomoka ipapo ipapo. Variant ayiwanepi pasina lab irikusevenza🤔
Why SA variant not so fatal in SA but reported so other countries…☹️
Spike ye convid19 came from South Africa pa Christmas holiday
Chikomborero Matondo good and vaiva vakuzviziva but they ignored it nekuti vaida mari which they loot futi.
Dai musina ku looter dai tose tirikumba tisingafambi fambi mazimbavha evanhu 😠
Anyone can do that in an animal farm
“SA Variant..?” Is That Its New Name😁??
Pilot Ka-Masango They no longer mention China or Wuhan, its now South Africa. Its stigmatisation of the African continent.
How fast can that so called SA variant be delivered to Zanupf HQ😜
Haa yaaaaaaaa
Bloody idiots all the know is throwing mud at other people. First the virus was from china now it’s from south Africa. We don’t care where it’s coming from all we want is the virus gone
This Gogo is to beautiful to be Chris wife
Raymond Murauro kuona kuno siyana 😉
Does she still believe the Coronavirus was a gift from God to punish whites for imposing sanctions on… https://t.co/zk7MAjo62i
Saka why are the numbers decreasing,now