Following an outbreak of coronavirus infection, Zvishavane District Hospital in
Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province has suspended admissions and other health care
services after 25 workers tested positive for COVID-19.
Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavima, also the provincial COVID-19
taskforce chairperson said this in a statement on Tuesday in Harare.
The health workers that tested positive were mostly nurses and three officials
from the district registrar’s office.
The latest infections put to the fore concerns by health workers at the front that
they remain at high risk from contracting the virus.
Three other healthcare workers at Claybank Private Hospital in Gweru, also in
the Midlands Province, have also tested positive to the virus.
This had added to the increasing number of infected healthcare workers after at
least 13 nurses from Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo fell victim.
Mavima said that 29 samples were taken at Zvishavane District Hospital last
week after some health care workers had tested positive.
“On July 13, Zvishavane District Hospital received eight PCR positive results of
which two were of health care workers.
“These results prompted the testing of other health care workers and other
probable contacts within the hospital on the same day.
“The hospital received the results today on July 20 and 25 out of 28 health care
workers tested positive.
“There are three staffers from the district registrar’s office who also tested
positive,” said Mavima.
He said the hospital was now under quarantine with investigations underway to
establish the source of the infections and that health authorities were tracking
contacts of the 28 positive cases, including visiting their homes in and around
Zvishavane.
“Investigations are underway to establish the source and the pattern of
transmission of the infections.
“Measures being taken include contact tracing and testing of other members
within the institution,” he said.
