Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response in Zimbabwe: A Call for Urgent Scale-up of Testing to meet National Capacity. (31st August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dzinamarira, Tafadzwa; Mukwenha, Solomon; Eghtessadi, Rouzeh; Cuadros, Diego F; Mhlanga, Gibson; Musuka, Godfrey
• Is Part Of: Clinical infectious diseases. Volume 72:Number 10(2021)
• Page Start: e667
• Page End: e674
• Publication Date: 2020-08-31
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- testing -- diagnostics -- Zimbabwe -- capacity; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1301
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-4838

Abstract

Abstract: Control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) heavily relies on universal access to testing in order to identify who is infected; track them to make sure they do not spread the disease further; and trace those with whom they have been in contact. The recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe is an urgent national public health concern and requires coordinated efforts to scale up testing using the capacity already in existence in the country. There is a need for substantial decentralization of testing, investment in better working conditions for frontline health workers, and the implementation of measures to curb corruption within government structures. Abstract : In this viewpoint, the authors describe the current status of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response in Zimbabwe and call for a scale-up of national testing capacity to better control the pandemic.