CLAIM: Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 cases are rising
SOURCE: eNCA news report
RATING: Inaccurate
On March 19, South Africa’s eNCA television news channel reported that Zimbabwe would not hesitate to impose a new lockdown. The report also said the number of new cases in Zimbabwe was rising.
“Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 infection rate, appears to be increasing again. This is after falling to its lowest level in the past weeks. The country now has over 36 000 COVID-10 positive infections, and over 1 500 deaths, and government says if the people continue to ignore wearing masks, and fail to practice social distancing, another lockdown may be on the cards.”
The report featured the headline: “New lockdown looms in Zimbabwe”.
The report is inaccurate. Official data issued by the Ministry of Information shows that new infections have slowed down since md January, although officials have indeed warned that a new wave is possible.
The rolling 7 day average of new infections has declined from 42 on February 28, the day before lockdown restrictions were significantly relaxed, to 26 on March 21.
On March 1, 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that the government was easing lockdown measures because “the number of COVID-19 cases, fatalities and hospitalisations continue to steadily decrease”.
The numbers of new cases as eased since a post-festive season surge that led to a 30-day lockdown being announced on January 2.
The number of new cases rose from 217 on the first day of the year and peaked that month at 1356 on 5 January. New cases then eased to 160 on 1 February, 50 on 15 February, 26 on 1 March, 20 on 15 March, and 41 on 19 March, the day the eNCA ran its report.
As at March 21, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe had recorded a total of 36 665 cases since the outbreak. Of these, 34 269 recovered while 1 512 died.
Conclusion
While authorities continue to urge Zimbabweans to keep observing measures to prevent coronavirus infections, the eNCA’s report that new cases are rising in Zimbabwe is inaccurate. Official data shows that new infections, as well as deaths, have slowed down since the start of the year. The numbers have also decreased since the government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions on March 1.
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