COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe
The COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ().The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Zimbabwe in March 2020. Some of Zimbabwe's provinces, especially Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland East, also struggled with a malaria outbreak at the same time. Though malaria is treatable, the healthcare system faces drug shortages and increased strain with the spread of COVID-19. Background On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019. The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. Model-based simulations for Zimbabwe indicate that the 95% confidence interval for the time-varying reproduction number R t has been stable below 1.0 since June 2021. Timeline March 2020 On 20 March, Zimbabwe reported its first COVID-19 case: a male resident of Victoria Falls who travelled back from the UK via South Africa on 15 March. No deaths have been reported initially, as erroneously indicated in some sources since the patient continues with self-isolation at home and showing signs of recovery. Two more cases in the country were confirmed on 21 March, both in Harare. On the 23 March, it was confirmed that noted Zimbabwean journalist Zororo Makamba was the first person in the country to die from the virus. During March, 8 persons tested positive and one died, leaving 7 active cases at the end of the month. April to June 2020 After Zororo Makamba's death, two more people died, increasing the number of deaths to three. Due to a shortage of protective medical equipment Zimbabwean doctors filed a lawsuit against the government so that they are adequately protected when treating infected patients. On 13 April, three more cases were reported, resulting in the number of cases in the country to total to 17. At least five journalists have been arrested for their coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. During April, 26 persons tested positive and three died. The number of confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak reached 34. The number of active cases at the end of the month was 25 (an increase by 257% from March). In April, according to Statutory Instrument 96 of 2020 of the Presidential Powers Act deferral of property rentals and mortgage payments during National Lockdown occurred. During the month 144 persons tested positive. The number of confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak reached 178. The number of active cases at the end of the month was 145 (an increase by 480% from April). The number of deceased patients remained unchanged. On 12 June, the India national cricket team announced that it was calling off its tour of Zimbabwe, scheduled for August 2020. Health minister, Obadiah Moyo,