The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
While Manicaland is under the spotlight as the third province with the highest number of Covid-19 cases after Harare and Bulawayo, authorities have stepped up efforts to combat the spread of the virus, including a more vigorous testing approach.
Mutare City Council’s Health Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, recently rolled out free Covid-19 screening and testing in the city.
The Rapid Diagnostic Antigen Test is being done at Mutare (Queen’s), Dangamvura and Sakubva Beit halls from 9am to 3pm every week day.
Results are released within 15 minutes.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Manicaland recorded the highest number of Covid-19 new cases last week on Saturday.
With the country’s total new cases standing at 156 on the day, 77 were recorded in Manicaland, while Harare and Midlands had the same number of new cases after recording 26 new cases each.
Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South had no cases, while Masvingo and Matabeleland North had a case each.
As of Wednesday, Manicaland had a total of 3 592 Covid-19 cases, with Harare having the highest cases at 12 249, followed by Bulawayo at 5 045.
Mutare City Council health director, Dr Anthony Mutara, who is also the local authority’s acting town clerk said Manicaland has had an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.
“This is a result of our more vigorous testing approach. We are picking up cases which otherwise may not have been picked,” he said.
Dr Mutara is also a member of the national Covid-19 response team.
The free screening and testing in Mutare comes at a time when some private laboratories in different cities and towns across the country are charging as much as US$60 for one to obtain a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) certificate.
A cursory research on free Covid-19 testing in the country revealed that Manicaland is one of the very few provinces with such an effective initiative in place.
Masvingo Provincial Development Coordinator, Dr Jefter Sakupwanya, said Covid-19 testing is being done for a fee in their province. “We do not have free Covid-19 testing in the province. It is being done for a fee. However, in special circumstances, mainly when there are important meetings, attendees may be tested for free,” he said.
Midlands Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr Abiot Maronge, said they do not have free Covid-19 testing facilities.
“We do not have any free Covid-19 testing facilities,” he said.
