Zvishavane District Hospital has suspended admissions and other health care services after 25 workers, most of them nurses and three officials from the district Registrar’s Office attached to the institution, tested positive to Covid-19.

Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, Larry Mavima, who is also the provincial Covid-19 taskforce chairperson, said 29 samples were taken at Zvishavane District Hospital last week after some health care workers had tested positive.

“On the 13th of July 2020, Zvishavane District Hospital received eight PCR positive results of which two were of health care workers.

“These results prompted the testing of other health care workers and other probable contacts within the hospital on the same day.

“The hospital received the results today 20 July 2020 and 25 out of 28 health care workers tested positive. There are three staffers from the district registrar’s office who also tested positive,” said Minister Mavima in a statement yesterday.

He said the hospital was now under quarantine with investigations underway to establish the source of the infections.

Minister Mavima said health authorities in the province were now tracking down contacts of the 28 positive cases, including visiting their homes in and around Zvishavane.

“Investigations are underway to establish the source and the pattern of transmission of the infections. Measures being taken include contact tracing and testing of other members within the institution,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Mavima said three healthcare workers at Claybank Private Hospital in Gweru have tested positive.

About 29 people, mostly health workers were in quarantine at the private institution after a diseased patient who was admitted at Claybank, tested positive to Covid-19.

“The tests at Claybank Hospital were received today (yesterday) and only three out of 29 have tested positive,” he said.