Factsheet – Zimbabwe on high alert for new Covid-19 variant

Zimbabwe remains on high alert for COVID-19 following the confirmation of a new variant in neighbouring South Africa, which health authorities say spreads very fast.

Ministry of Health and Child Care public relations and communications manager Donald Mujiri said they are continuing to encourage people to get vaccinated against the virus.

“The ministry has always monitored situations on the ground and continues to do so, we have not laxed on our response to COVID-19,” he said in response to questions on whether Zimbabwe had any specific approach to the new COVID-Omicron XBB variant which China is battling.The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is concerned about how quickly the XBB.1.5 subvariant spreads, noting that it is the most transmissible subvariant ever detected.

Currently, WHO does not have any data on the seriousness of XBB.1.5, but it says there is no indication that it makes people more sick than previous subvariants.

In the week to January 8, 2023, Zimbabwe recorded 29 Covid cases and no deaths – but not of the new variant.

In 2020 and 2021, Zimbabwe experienced four waves of COVID-19.

According to a 2022 study, after the first case of COVID-19 reported in March 2020, in October, more than 8000 cases and 243 deaths were recorded. The peak of the second wave was between November 2020 and January 2021, third wave was in July 2021 and forth wave was in December 2021.

Currently, the rates of new cases and deaths have eased but new cases are still being recorded.

Here are some facts on where Zimbabwe is with regards to COVID- 19 prevention and mitigation.

1.	Launch of new vaccination campaign	The government launched a vaccination blitz in December 2022 to  boost  uptake of COVID-19 doses, which had slowed down in the second half of 2022.
2.	Vaccines approved in Zimbabwe	Jcoviden(Johnson and Johnson), SputnikV, Covaxin, Covilo (Sinopharm), CoronaVac(Sinovac).   Vaccines that are currently available according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care are  Covilo (Sinopharm) and CoronaVac (Sinovac).
3.	Masking Up	In October 2022, Zimbabwe government gazetted a Statutory Instrument which outlines that the wearing of face masks is mandatory for indoor spaces to which the public has access and in public transportation. Only people who have been fully vaccinated are allowed to move in outdoor public spaces without masks.
4.	COVID 19 Cases data	As of December 6, 2022, the country had 52 new cases of COVID-19, 259,438 cumulative cases and 450 active cases.
5.	COVID-19 Recoveries	The ministry of health says the average recovery rate, at the end of 2022, was at 98 percent.
6.	COVID- 19 Deaths	The total number of deaths was at 5, 623, as of December 6 2022.
7.	COVID-19 Vaccination	Out of a target of 11, 239, 749, a total of 6, 575, 299 people had received their first dose, 4 944, 860 had received their second dose and 1, 255, 863 had received their third dose as of December 6, 2022.
8.	COVID-19 Incidences	As of December 6, 2022, Masvingo had the highest incidences per capita followed by Matabeleland and Mashonaland East. Matabeleland South and Midlands had the lowest incidences.

Related information

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Where is Zimbabwe on COVID-19

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