A REPORT BY HIS WORSHIP SOLOMON MGUNI

The MAYOR OF BULAWAYO

ON COVID -19

IN THE CITY OF BULAWAYO

THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2020

i. Situational Report on COVID-19

SITUATION UPDATE / HIGHLIGHTS

• Global cumulative total of 7 145 539 confirmed (105 621) and 408 025 deaths (3 629) Source: WHO SitRep 142, as of 1000hrs CEST 10 May 2020
• Africa 54 States reporting 203 899 confirmed 5 530 deaths and 91 398 recoveries Source: Africa CDC Report, as of 0900hrs EAT 10 June 2020
• Nationally a cumulative of 320 confirmed cases (6), 49 recoveries and 4 deaths (0) Source: Zimbabwe MoHCC Update issued 03 June 2020
• In Bulawayo 23 cases (0), ten recoveries and 1 death (0). 1 case to be captured nationally Source: City of Bulawayo: Health Services Department 11 June 2020

CASE and LABORATORY / HIGHLIGHTS

The City as at 08:00hrs on the 11th June 2020 had a total of 23 cases of COVID-19 spread throughout the city, in at least 10 suburbs; and has followed up at least 1198 contacts.

There is need to re-emphasize implementation of preventive measures such as cough etiquette, hand hygiene and social distancing; to break the chain of transmission.

Of the first 12 cases (diagnosed in April 2020), though the index case had been diagnosed posthumously, 10 had recovered and only one of the cases was yet to receive results to confirm recovery.

Eleven of these cases were due to local transmission.

None of the cases needed hospital admission for medical treatment.

Of these cases the 668 contacts were traced and followed up.

Of the recently identified 11 cases of COVID-19, all are stable and in isolation.

One client had been admitted for management, including Oxygen support for a few days but is now stable and out of the hospital.

At least 530 contacts have been followed up by 08:00 hrs of the 11th June 2020.

At least 1 357 specimens have been sent to the laboratory for RT-PCR and Xpress Xpert testing for SARS-CoV-2 to date and the turnaround time for results improved significantly to less than 48hours this week.

Though there has been limited availability of specimen collection swabs and viral transportation media (VTM), the laboratory network has expanded in the city.

In the public sector, the NUST ACTG/NTBRL RT-PCR platform is now complimented by the Xpress Xpert tests.

The Gene Xpert machines, usually used for the Tuberculosis control programme is being capacitated.

Xpress Xpert SARS-CoV-2 related software has been installed on the machines at Mpilo, United Bulawayo and Thorngrove Hospitals.

Some SARS-CoV-2 samples have been processed at Thorngrove Hospital after working hours, when the machine is not being used for TB samples, and this is also expected in the near future at the Population Services International Bambanani Clinic and the hospital at Lookout Masuku Barracks.

In the Private Sector, Lancet laboratory continues to collect specimens and sends to their Harare counterpart for RT-PCR testing, and the Mater Dei based Diagnostic Laboratory Services have built capacity to perform the same antigen tests. They have not reported any new cases in the city to date.

This week the various city health institutions/facilities are participating/facilitating in a study that will see front line health workers being tested for COVID-19 using various different tests. This study is conducted as part of the Tackling Infectious Diseases for the Benefit of Africa (TIBA) and the local leading institutions are the National University of Science and Technology and Iam4byo against COVID-19. The study will generate local evidence to inform policy on COVID-19 management.

COORDINATION ACTIVITIES

In the fight against COVID-19, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has different thematic teams participating in the Epidemic response. These comprise of the Call Centre; Case Management; Coordination; Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE), Disease Surveillance; Disinfection, Environmental Sanitation, Waste Management & Body Management; Logistics Supply Chain Management; Rapid Response Teams (RRTs); Patient location facilitation. Bulawayo City Council’s Epidemic Preparedness and Response Teams get daily updates through physical meetings (beginning 28th of January 2020) and complemented by electronic media platforms.

The overall city response was escalated to the level of the office of the Provincial Minister of State.

A call out roster for staff, enhanced by a WhatsApp chat group is in place. The BCC call centre (backed by resources persons) can be contacted for information / services on numbers:

• 08084700 (Econet Numbers Only)
• 08004700 (TelOne Numbers Only)
• 263-2922 71290 (All Networks)
• 263-774 668 432 (WhatsApp Only)

Two numbers are available for direct calls to the rapid response teams (cell phones courtesy of the Bulawayo Entertainment Industry) i.e.

• 263 - 784 150 042
• 263 - 784 149 828

The national lockdown is in effect indefinitely. Some sectors are now allowed to resume work on condition that their employees have temperature tests upon entering work premises; hand hygiene stations (hand washing or sanitizers upon entry); each employee to wear a face mask in appropriate form; and employees to practice social distancing in the work place.

This week the City Council was visited by officials from Africa Centre for Disease Control.

A meeting of the Ministry of Health and Child Care Stakeholders held at Ingutsheni Hospital on Thursday, 4th June 2020 resolved that Mpilo Hospital staff would cater for returnees and United College of Education (UCE), United Bulawayo Hospital staff look after those at Bulawayo Polytechnic, Bulawayo City Council o look after positive cases at Elangeni Institution and Ingutsheni Hospital staff be cross cutting.

CHALLENGES / RESOURCE GAPS IN RESPONDING

1. Infodemics seem to be resurfacing.
2. Inadequate human resources should the cases increase in numbers and for testing.
3. Need for more oxygen canisters, flow metres, delivery tubes and masks/nasal prongs.
4. Risk of Elangeni isolation being deactivated for positive but not ill cases.

RECOMMENDATIONS & PRIORITY FOLLOW UP ACTIONS

1. Stakeholders and the public are advised to resort to reputable sources of information.
2. Expedite the secondment of 15 nurses and laboratory staff to BCC.
3. Expediting infrastructure renovations for piped oxygen etc.
4. Urgent identification of a new isolation centre for asymptomatic cases.