By Ezra Tshisa Sibanda

Zimbabwe has moved back into lockdown with immediate effect following a spike in Covid-19 cases which now top 14 000-plus. Over 300 deaths have also been recorded.

There is a serious second wave of Covid-19 pandemic in Bulawayo which is now the epicentre of this deadly disease.

What we don’t need at the moment is unclear & fake statement purportedly from Mpilo Hospital about number of infected people. The list here contains statistics from March 2020 to 31 December 2020 but the author didn’t specify for reasons known to her. The truth is most of those people recovered long time ago from the disease.

We need clear updates, give us the number of tested people and the true number of people infected with the Covid-19. The only way to beat this disease is to test people for free and don’t wait to test them when they feel unwell. In efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the GVT should impose stringent restrictions on movement of people, STOP Zupco packing passengers in their buses where there is no social distancing and also close borders.

Test, Track and trace is key to containing COVID-19 and can only be successful by making testing affordable.

The GVT should find efficient ways of tracing and tracking contact once an infection has been verified. The ability to track and trace infections for public health has emerged as one of the single most important interventions in trying to contain the disease and protect people.