Freedom for the vaccinated… but you still need you...

Freedom for the vaccinated… but you still need your mask

Fully vaccinated can go mask free in outdoor public spaces
Must carry vaccination card
Still required to mask up in indoor public spaces such as shops, banks, churches, public transport and offices
1.7% of population affected by recorded cases of Covid-19

Fully vaccinated people need no longer wear masks in public outdoor spaces but must cover up when entering indoor public spaces, following a government policy shift.

“Organisation (WHO) recommended vaccines are now exempted from Page 3 of 11 mandatory wearing of face masks in outdoor public places but should however wear face masks in indoor public places and on public transport. Those who are fully vaccinated should carry their vaccination cards all the time,” reads the 25th Post Cabinet Briefing issued of 16 August 2022.

This means that the fully vaccinated must carry their cards and produce them on request of authorised government agents such a police officers.

The fully vaccinated must also have their masks at hand when entering indoor public spaces such as public transport, shops, banks, churches and other service provision points.

So essentially the fully vaccinated have been granted a reprieve from wearing masks on the streets, in parks, at malls and any other outdoor space.

Zimbabwe still had mandatory masking up policy way after neighbours like South Africa and Namibia removed similar restrictions.

The full Covid-19 picture 15 August 2022

According to the brief, Zimbabwe’s official records show that only 1.7 percent of the population was infected with Covid-19 since confirmation of the virus in the country in early 2020.

Two percent of the infected (0.04 percent of total population) succumbed to the virus while the majority recovered.

While Zimbabwe still has active Covid-19 cases, numbers are low. New recorded cases for the week went down to 57 from 105 in the previous week.

A World Health Organisation study suggested that infection rates in African countries could be as 97 times higher than official records with over 67 percent cases of infected people showing no symptoms.

“This analysis shows that current reported COVID-19 confirmed cases are only a fraction of the actual number of infections on the continent. This under-counting is occurring world-wide and it’s no surprise that the numbers are particularly large in Africa where there are so many cases with no symptoms,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa in April.

Enough vaccines for all

Zimbabwe has sufficient vaccines for all citizens and provinces are being encouraged to ramp up their vaccination drives.

“The public is encouraged to get vaccinated has we have enough vaccines in the country… Routine vaccination activities are continuing at all health facilities,” the brief reads.

As of 15 August, 2022, a total of 6 390 545 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered, while 4 752 575 people had received the second dose, and 959 909 the third dose.

Zimbabwe has procured millions of vaccines and received donations from friendly countries like China and India.