By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
Two phased approaches will be used in all provinces so as to conduct more tests and meet the recommended testing target.
This was recently presented by Vice president, Kembo Mohadi who is also the Chair of the Ad Hoc Inter – Ministerial Task Force on COVID -19 to the cabinet.
Phase one will focus on the two large cities, Bulawayo and Harare.
“In order to reach the testing target, the joint testing teams will immediately conduct tests in all the provinces utilising the following phased approach: Phase 1, which will initially focus on Harare and Bulawayo, will test the following: Security personnel and their families. All medical staff and patients at all central hospitals. All returning residents from abroad in designated mandatory quarantine facilities. All contacts of confirmed cases regardless of showing symptoms of the disease. All the community around a cluster of cases. Immigration officials at R.G. Mugabe, J.M. Nkomo, and Victoria Falls International Airports; at Beitbridge and Forbes Border Posts; Drivers at truck stops; and all cases fitting the case definition,” he said.
The secomd phase will then be decentralised to other provinces and districts.
“Phase 2, which will entail the expansion of sample collection and testing to all categories under Phase 1 across all provinces and districts.
There will be a disbursement of ZW100 million from the treasury for mopping up of all available local PPEs stock.
Identification by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development of Strategic truck stops along the country’s regional corridors to be designated by way of Government Gazette as SADC Transit Truck Stops for use by regional transit traffic when traversing Zimbabwe during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The setting up of isolation facilities at Rowa Training Centre and Vhuti High School for those those entering the country using the Forbes Border Post, and Kariba and Chirundu Border Posts, respectively,” Mohadi said.
13 more boreholes should be drilled at priority centres identified by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, and Devolution, including one at Wilkins Hospital and two at Beatrice Road Infections Diseases Hospital; and disbursement by Treasury of ZW$667 million of the budgeted ZW$758 million towards the fight against COVID-19;
