Health And Child Care Deputy Minister John Mangwiro has told Parliament that the country is fully prepared to deal with the second wave of COVID-19.

The assurance by the deputy minister comes at a time when cases are on an increase in Zimbabwe.Most Zimbabweans are worried about the possibility of the second wave, due to the manner in which the government handled the first wave.

Countries in Europe such as the United Kingdom are currently experiencing the second wave due to winter.

Since the first case was detected in Zimbabwe in March this year, about 168 386 PCR and 110 591 tests have been done countrywide.

Of the total tests done about 9950 came positive with 8482 recovering.

Speaking in the National Assembly, the deputy minister said the country was upscaling its testing in response to the upsurge of infections, adding that Zimbabwe is now better pre-paid for the second wave.

“We are prepared much more than at the first wave of the virus. The advantage is that most of the PPEs, last time when it came, we were importing them. Right now things are being manufactured and produced locally almost 95%.

“So it is much easier for us. That is positive on our side that we have got these. So we are continuing to make sure we are prepared and we are really ready this time much more than the last time,” he said.

Mangwiro emphasised that the best solution to deal with COVID-19 was not to get the virus and by ensuring people continue to protect themselves, especially in schools by putting on masks, practising social distancing and also staying at home where necessary to avoid much physical contact.

Currently, Zimbabwe has 1192 active COVID-19 cases with Bulawayo taking the lead in the number of active cases.

-Open Parly