The Sunday Mail
Gender and Community Editor
The spike in deaths from Covid-19-related complications in January was possibly a result of the influx of people through Beitbridge Border Post during the festive season, a senior public health expert has claimed.
Infections and fatalities began rising exponentially during the festive season, signalling the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic.
The country’s Covid-19 death toll rose to 1 217 after 828 people succumbed to the respiratory illness in the four weeks to January 31.
Between March and December 31 last year, 369 people died from the deadly disease.
January 25 was particularly grim after the country recorded 70 deaths, representing the highest single-day rise since the first case was recorded in March last year.
South Africa is considered the continent’s hotspot for the pandemic, with deaths of more than 47 000 as of last week.
Mpilo Hospital acting chief executive officer Professor Solwayo Ngwenya said the influx of people from South Africa triggered a rapid spread of the disease in the country.
“I think the major reason is that Zimbabwe, during the festive season, was almost an extension of South Africa,” said Prof Ngwenya.
“We got a lot of visitors here, so they imported the virus with them and possibly the new strain. That’s why you see that a lot of deaths happened in January.
“Before that, the deaths were maintaining a good, constant regional trend.
“But the moment we opened our borders and allowed people from South Africa to visit here, we literally became a small extension of South Africa, hence we recorded high numbers.”
The number of deaths, he added, began dropping gradually after the end of the festive season. The closure of the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa has also limited the spread of the virus beyond borders.
Prof Ngwenya said when the current level four lockdown lapses tomorrow, authorities should consider relaxing restrictions while maintaining a ban on social gatherings.
He advised a phased approach to reopening of schools.
