COVID-19 UPDATES
What is Coronavirus?
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The outbreak originated in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January, and a pandemic on 11 March. As of 13 May 2020, more than 4.27 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in over 187 countries and territories, resulting in more than 292,000 deaths. More than 1.5 million people have recovered.
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.