A long way out of the woods

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday extended the Level IV lockdown measures by a further two weeks saying the Covid-19 threat is still on our shores.

The measures were introduced on June 29 amid a rise in new cases and deaths per day as the third wave ravaged the country.

The lockdown measures have been reviewed after every two weeks. They  include the banning of intercity travel, businesses have been ordered to operate from 8 to 3:30pm and cut employees at work to 40%.

President Mnangagwa said the measures have seen the increase in new cases per day going down considerably in the past two weeks, to less than 10% for most provinces, a clear indication that the pandemic can be brought under control.

But he said the number of new cases and deaths per day remained “unacceptably high” necessitating the need for the extension of the lockdown.

Zimbabwe is banking on vaccination to reduce the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and re-open the economy.

The United Kingdom removed the last Covid-19 restrictions last month after vaccinating half of its population. This has allowed its economy to re-open.

Unlike other African countries where there is a shortage of vaccine doses, Zimbabwe has been suffering from vaccine hesitancy for cultural and religious beliefs and in some instances hating everything Chinese since the bulk of the doses are coming from the Asian giant.

In a nation which has more churches sprouting up than industries, religious leaders are closely followed.

One religious leader who was against vaccination made a U-turn recently saying he was never against vaccination.

Time seems to be running out with President Mnangagwa saying on Monday that those eligible for vaccination should be urgently vaccinated as there is no good reason to delay.

President Mnangagwa said a number of countries globally are beginning to experience a fourth wave, a worrisome trend when infections rise in Zimbabwe’s neighbours.

The government has done its part by making sure the vaccine is available. It has used a carrot and stick approach to ramp up vaccination.

While vaccination was the preserve of central hospitals and council clinics, it has been opened up to private hospitals and clinics at a fee.

It has also directed that only vaccinated employees would be able to use government buses.

A number of parastatals have made vaccination mandatory.

The private sector has also joined in telling its employees to get vaccinated or produce PCR certificates valid for 48 hours every time they come to work.

The cost of getting the PCR certificates will force one to opt for vaccination.

These combined forces are meant to achieve 60% herd immunity for Zimbabwe and allow the economy to reopen again. It is still a long way to reach that target but the groundwork has been laid.

The lockdown needs to be buttressed by vaccination which goes a long way in reducing the effects of the Covid-19.

It is clear that Covid-19 is here to stay and it is the prerogative of the individual to be on guard.

Adhering to the World Health Organisation guidelines — the wearing of face masks, practising social distancing and sanitising — and vaccination become the way out.

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