Category: #COVID19

#COVID-19: Zim Tightens Lockdown, Schools Reopening Deferred, Economy Reopening Halted

Michael Gwarisa

GOVERNMENT has announced tighter lockdwon restrictions in the wake of spiking COVID-19 infections and deaths. By Michael Gwarisa This was revealed by Information, publicity and broadcasting services minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa during a pots cabinet media briefing today. “Cabinet is disturbed by the spike in COVID-19 locally transmitted cases and the number of deaths recorded. To curb the increase in transmissions as well as deaths from COVID-19, the following measures were adopted: (a) that the current lockdown restrictions will be tightened, while localised lockdowns are introduced in hotspot areas and…

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Many Governments Handling COVID-19 Carelessly and Infections Could Spike Warns WHO Director

Michael Gwarisa

A number of countries could be headed for trying times ahead regarding COVID-19 infections following indications that most citizens in various countries were flouting World Health Organisation set COVID-19 prevention guidelines.  By Michael Gwarisa In his remarks  during a media briefing, World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Director, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus urged leaders to be vigilant and consistent in communicating the COVI-19 message. Let me blunt, too many countries are headed in the wrong direction. The virus remains public enemy number one, but the actions of many governments and people do…

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Networks Of People Living With HIV Plug The Gap In Essential Services As Weak Health Systems Struggle To Cope With COVID-19

Healthtimes

AS health systems the world over are buckling under the pressure of COVID-19, volunteers and activists from the HIV movement have stepped in to ensure that essential services continue. A survey by GNP+, ICW and Y+ Global has found that networks of people living with HIV are using innovative ways to ensure their peers and their communities continue to have access to the critical services that they need. The results of the survey, released today in our report Living with HIV in the time of COVID-19, show how governments are focusing…

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#Covid-19: Masiyiwa Steps Up Campaign For Use Of Face Masks

Healthtimes

BUSINESSMAN and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa has urged people to wear masks in the fight to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus. HealthTimes Reporter This comes at a time the World Health Organisation (WHO) has indicated that wearing masks in public places could provide “a barrier for potentially infectious droplets” By now it should be clear to everybody that the most powerful tool to fight coronavirus infection is the humble Mask,” Masiyiwa said on his Facebook page. “We have to wear Masks for the next 12 months, every day, in…

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Almost 10 million children may never return to school following Covid-19 lockdown- Save The Children Warns

Michael Gwarisa

DEEP budget cuts to education and rising poverty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could force at least 9.7 million children out of school forever by the end of this year, with millions more falling behind in learning, Save the Children warns in a new report launched today. Girls are likely to be much worse affected than boys, with many forced into early marriage. As the impacts of the recession triggered by COVID-19 hits families, many children may be forced out of school and into labour markets. In its report, Save…

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#JUSTIN: Cross Boarder Trucks Reversing Zim COVID-19 Containment Efforts

Michael Gwarisa

CROSS boarder vehicles are making it difficult for Zimbabwe to combat the raging COVID-19 amidst indications that truckers and other cross boarder vehicles operators are smuggling returnees into the country, in the process evading mandatory quarantine which allows health workers to monitor them for any possible symptoms of infection. By Michael Gwarisa In a media brief, Information, Publicity and broadcasting services minister, Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said even though the country appears to be suffering from lockdown fatigue does s not give Citizens  immunity from infections. Enforcement has been intensified to…

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Oxford, Wits Universities Conducting ÇOVID-19 Vaccine Trails

Healthtimes
Dr Portia Hunidzarira, University of Zimbabwe, Clinical Health Science (CHS)-Clinical Trials Research Centre (CTRC) in March walked journalists on the vaccine roadmap.

THE Oxford University is running COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials in collaboration with Wits University of South Africa. The vaccine was developed at the University of Oxford’s Oxford Jenner Institute and is currently on trial in the UK. Over 4 000 participants are already enrolled into the clinical trial and enrolment of an additional 10 000 participants is planned. The clinical trials are running in the UK, Brazil and South Africa. Why South Africa for vaccine trials? South Africa is the epicentre of COVID-19 in Africa. With 60% of the infections…

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NCD Alliance Launches New Civil Society Solidarity Fund In Response To COVID19

Michael Gwarisa
NCD ALLIANCE

TWENTY Civil Society Alliances from Africa, Asia, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean and Latin America will be awarded grants to accelerate the response to the coronavirus pandemic through the first Civil Society Solidarity Fund on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and COVID-19, which was announced today by the NCD Alliance during a high-level online event. HealthTimes Reporter Todd Harper, President of the NCD Alliance, said: “The coronavirus pandemic shows many intersections between COVID-19 and NCDs. People living with NCDs are more vulnerable to COVID-19, with a substantially higher risk of becoming severely ill or…

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Address by His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa Focus on South Africa …effect on neighbours, Zim in particular

Healthtimes

By Catherine Murombedzi Health Correspondent ● Country remains at Level 3 ● Not yet at peak, ● All taxis on long trips must observe 70% occupancy ● Local taxis to ply at 100% observing all measures ● Alcohol sales prohibited with immediate effect ● Curfew effective Monday 13 July, 2020, 9pm to 4am no travel except from work or seeking medical assistance. ● Ease restrictions on auctions eased, agriculture, parks open for exercises. ● Family visits still prohibited, we note as social beings those with aged parents find it difficult,…

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Zim Reports Steady Improvement In Uptake of Maternal, Reproductive & Adolescents Health Services Under Lockdown

Healthtimes

THE ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says there has been a steady improvement in the uptake of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) for the first time since the national lockdown was effected in March this year. HealthTimes Reporter According to the health ministry, there was a decline in the utilization of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services such as family planning, antenatal care, postnatal care and other reproductive health services, particularly in the month of April 2020. The decline was due to challenges…

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