Ministry of Health and Child Care CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

UPDATE: 09 APRIL 2020

The Ministry would like to report that today, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested 25 samples, including a sample from case #1.

This repeat sample was collected to confirm clinical recovery according to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

There were no new positive cases identified. All samples except that of case NI tested negative for COVID-19.

The WHO recommends that patients with mild confirmed COVID-I9 who are cared for at home, must test negative twice, using PCR.

on samples collected at least 24 hours apart, before they are released from home isolation.

Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has eleven confirmed cases of COVID-I9, including three deaths.

Cumulative Tests Conducted: 438
COVID-19 Negative: 427
COVID-19 Positive: 11
Deaths: 3
Province:
Matabeleland North 1
Bulawayo 1
Harare 5
Mashonaland East 4
Total 11
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-I9 pandemic.

Active contact tracing for case #1 1 from Bulawayo is in progress and to date, we have identified 47 primary contacts of this case. One of these had symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.

In line with our intensified surveillance and expanded testing strategy these will be followed up for 21-days and tested accordingly. The Ministry will update the nation on the outcome of these tests.

Further the Ministry would like to remind the nation that the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to practise good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.