Government has promised that they expect to procure another two million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China at the end of this month.
The consignment will compliment the 500 000 doses which are expected to be delivered this Saturday.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe has recorded 127 percent increase in Covid-19 cases in the past week alone to 1 239 from 544 during the previous week hence the efforts by government to procure more vaccines would lessen the further spread of the virus.
Speaking during the post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government is expecting to receive another 2 million vaccines from China and these vaccines will be distributed to areas that are seriously hit by the pandemic.
“On procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, Cabinet is pleased to report that arrangements are currently in progress to procure two million doses of vaccines from China.
“These are expected in the country by end of month. The nation is advised that the next priority areas of vaccination are the remaining border posts, especially Forbes, Chirundu and Kariba, current hotspots, tobacco auction floors and people’s markets such as Renkini in Bulawayo, Mbare Musika in Harare and Sakubva Musika in Mutare,” she said.
She added that the surge of Covid-19 cases could be attributed to general complacency in adhering to the set Covid-19 preventive and precautionary measures both in the communities and at workplaces whilst adding that the majority of cases were recorded in Hurungwe (364), Kariba (217), Chiredzi (185) and Makonde (51) however as a result, the minister said Cabinet had approved localized lockdowns in more hotspot areas.
“Cabinet further approved the localised lockdown in the following hotspot areas — in Mashonaland West, Karoi,Makonde, Chinhoyi, Mhangura, Chidamoyo, Magunje, Chirundu; in Bulawayo Nkulumane, Emakhandeni and Northern Surburbs; in Mashonaland Central Mount Darwin and in Masvingo, Chiredzi.
“The nation is informed that there would be a joint security blitz to enforce the recently promulgated Covid-19 prevention and control measures, especially in the designated hotspots. Furthermore, border security and surveillance at ports of entry is being strengthened,” she said.
Minister Monica Mutsvangwa also emphasized that the Grain Marketing Board staff and Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) workers as well as the Hwange population would also be included in the vaccination programme.
Although Kariba, Makonde and Hurungwe had already been under localised lockdown, Minister Mutsvangwa said government was concerned that the situation had not improved with the districts are recording more cases and deaths.
Kwekwe, which was the first district to be placed under lockdown on May 9, has also witnessed a rise in cases since then.
