BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) is recording an average of 100 calls per week from panicky residents suspecting COVID-19 infection, a latest council report has revealed.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Bulawayo has 20 confirmed cases out of the 282 recorded countrywide.
Reports yesterday said Mpilo Central Hospital had placed 197 of its health workers on self-isolation after four cases were recorded on a single day recently.
A latest council report showed that residents were living in fear of infection and kept the council’s COVID-19 fighting teams on their toes calling to report suspected cases.
“The city through the call centre was receiving an average of 13 calls per day from members of the public who suspected they might have COVID-19 or who suspected others near them had COVID-19. Residents were encouraged to use the available platforms for obtaining information and also for making reports on suspected cases. Suspected cases were discouraged from moving around. Those on self-isolation were to adhere to the recommendations made by the healthcare professionals,” the minutes read.
The country is witnessing an increase in confirmed cases with many being recorded from returning Zimbabweans at quarantine centres.
Zimbabwean returnees undergo 21-day mandatory quarantine and COVID-19 testing at identified facilities across the country to prevent the infected from spreading the disease in the communities.
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There are reports of Zimbabwean returnees using illegal crossing points to enter the country to avoid mandatory quarantine and COVID-19 testing at the points of entry, exposing local communities to infection.
Returnees have been complaining of poor service at quarantine centres, forcing the government to yield to demands to allow hotels and lodges to offer services. Under this arrangement, returnees foot their bills.
Over 150 returnees are reported to have fled the poorly-equipped and funded quarantine centres.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the returnees should not expect luxury.
“We can try to provide for them, but we cannot provide five-star facilities like hotels,” Mnangagwa said recently.
