Author: Michael Gwarisa

Editor for HealthTimes, Zimbabwe's leading online health news publication

#BREAKING: Zim COVID-19 Cases Jump To 63

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE yesterday recorded seven more cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 63 up from 56. By Michael Gwarisa Even though more recoveries have been reported recently, the number of active cases now exceeds that of recovered patients. In its daily update,the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) said the new cases were detected amongst returnees from South Africa who are quarantines in Beitbridge. Seven new cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These are returnees from South Africa who are quarantined in Beitbridge. Today 653 Rapid Diagnostic…

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#COVID-19: All Learning Institutions To Be Disinfected Before Reopening

Michael Gwarisa

MINISTER of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa has announced that government would soon be disinfecting all institutions of learning ahead schools and reopening scheduled for next month. By Michael Gwarisa In a media briefe, Hon Mutsvangwa said even though most institutions of learning had been turned into quarantine centers for returning citizens plans are already in place to de-congest the institutions and pave way for schools and universities reopening. Currently, some of our learning institutions are being used as quarantine centres.  With regards to the Cabinet decision…

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#COVID-19: Zim Quarantine Centers Now New COVID-19 Hotspots

Michael Gwarisa

HEALTH and Child Care Minister. Dr Obadiah Moyo has warned that returnees from foreign countries make up majority of the COVID-19 cases being recorded in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health today, Dr Moyo said the country has of late been receiving more returnees from neighboring South Africa and Botswana. These people who are coming from South Africa and Botswana I really want to point out very clearly that that is our source of danger. As they continue coming in, we can’t stop them because…

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#COVID-19: Zim Lecturers Fret Over Universities Reopening

Michael Gwarisa

LECTURERS across most of  Zimbabwe’s state universities have expressed concern over government’s decision to reopen universities at a time the country is battling the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe currently has 56 confirmed cases of COVID-19 amidst indications that the country has not been doing enough in terms of testing, and the reopening of schools and universities  could lead to a spike in new cases in the not so distant future. Government recently announced that schools would reopen mid-june while  universities are set to open on June 1,…

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#COVID-19: South Africa Revises Lockdwon Down To Level 3

Michael Gwarisa

SOUTH Africa President, Cyril Ramaposa has revised the national lockdown to Level three after wide consultations with various stakeholders. By Michael Gwarisa Addressing the nation, President Ramaposa said the lockdown has been effective. While the nation-wide lockdown has been effective, it cannot be sustained indefinitely. We introduced the five-level COVID-19 alert system to manage the gradual easing of the lockdown. This risk-adjusted approach is guided by several criteria, including the level of infections and rate of transmission, the capacity of health facilities, the extent of the implementation of public health…

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COVID-19 Threatens Access To Obsteric Care

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem says the prevailing COVID-19 global health pandemic was making difficult for some pregnant women to access obstetric care. By Michael Gwarisa In her statement to mark the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula commemorations to be  held tommorow, 23 May 2020, Dr Kanem said the prevailing global pandemic had pushed health systems to limits. Last November, the world convened in Nairobi to celebrate the tremendous gains of the past 25 years in advancing the health and rights of women…

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#COVID-19: HIV Virological Suppression Critical During COVID-19 Pandemic Says PEPFAR

Michael Gwarisa

THE United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) says it was critical to ensure the HIV viral load is suppressed under the prevailing global health crisis where majority of health services have been interrupted. By Michael Gwarisa PEAPFAR recently published guidelines to ensure continuous and effective HIV and AIDS treatement and care under the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Click HERE To Access PEPFAR Document: According to PEPFAR, evidence on the impact of COVID-19 amongst PLHIV was still scarce and there is currently no direct evidence that people with HIV…

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#COVID-19: Majority Zim COVID-19 Patients Being Managed From Home…Most Cases Have Mild Symptoms

Michael Gwarisa

A number of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe are showing mild symptoms and are being managed from home, newly appointed acting permanent secretary in the ministry of health and child, Dr Gibson Mhlanga has said. By Michael Gwarisa The world over, patients who have mild illness, such as low-grade fever, cough, malaise, rhinorrhoea, sore throat without any warning signs, such as shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, increased respiratory (i.e. sputum or haemoptysis), gastro-intestinal symptoms such as nausea may not need hospitalization  unless there is concern for rapid clinical deterioration.…

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#COVID-19: CSOs Caution Gvt To Consider Economic Impact Of Indefinite Lockdown

Michael Gwarisa

HEALTH Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have welcomed government’s move to extend the lockdown but warned against instituting measures that could negatively affect the vulnerable and the country’s highly informalised economy. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HalthTimes, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director, Mr Itai Rusike said the lockdown extension was a welcome move given the spike in new Covid-19 cases and there was no room for wishful thinking when dealing with a global health pandemic. We need to remain vigilant and fully prepared to deal with…

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