Staff Writer
ZIMBABWE’s confirmed Covid19 cases have risen to 174 amid reports that infected returnees spread the virus to seven locals.
In a statement, the Health Ministry said out of all the tests conducted Saturday, fourteen more people tested positive.
“Fourteen cases tested positive for Covid19 today .These include 7 returnees: South Africa 5, Botswana 1, United kingdom 1 and seven local cases who are all isolated. The seven local cases being reported today and the two mentioned in yesterday’s report are contacts of known confirmed cases,” the update said.
On the same day, government said 365 RDT screening tests and 666 PCR tests were done.
The cumulative number of tests done to date is 44 635 (27 109 RDT and 17 526 PCR).
“To date the total number of confirmed cases is 174, recovered 29, active cases 141 and 4 deaths since the onset of the outbreak on March 20 2020,” the update said.
The statistics show that Bulawayo Province recorded three new cases, Harare seven new cases, Mashonaland West one case, Masvingo Province two new cases and Matabeleland North Province recorded one new case.
Cumulatively, Harare province is maintaining the lead with 81cases followed by Masvingo with 27 cases and Bulawayo with 18 cases.
However, the majority of cases recorded in Zimbabwe have been imported by the country’s nationals who are returning from foreign nations prompting calls by health experts for the country to tighten controls at border posts and quarantine centers.
