Another Harare Coronavirus Suspect Tests Positive Bringing the Number to 9

Coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe have risen to 9, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has advised the public.

The Ministry informed the public through a statement: The Ministry would like to report that today. the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested 42 samples. The samples were received from six provinces i.e. Harare (31), Bulawayo (4), Mashonaland East (3), Mashonaland West (2), Midlands (I) and Masvingo (1). One of these tested positive for COVID-19.

Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has 9 confirmed cases, including one death.

Below is the press statement released yesterday

Ministry of Health and Child Care CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE: 02 APRIL 2020

The Ministry would like to report that today, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested 42 samples. The samples were received from six provinces i.e. Harare (31), Bulawayo (4), Mashonaland East (3), Mashonaland West (2), Midlands (1) and Masvingo (1). One of these tested positive for COVID-19.

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Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has 9 confirmed cases, including one death.

The ninth patient is a 50-year-old male resident of Harare, who had travelled to the United Kingdom and returned home on the 21″ of March 2020. He started exhibiting mild symptoms and the local COVID-19 Rapid Response Team went to assess him at home on the 1″ April 2020 and collected samples for testing.

• Cumulative Tests Conducted: 316
• COVID-19 Negative: 307
• COVID-19 Positive: 9
• Deaths: 1

The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that, the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to;

✓ frequently clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
✓cover your nose and mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing.
✓maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from people who are coughing or sneezing.
✓ avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.