Thursday 7 May 2020
i. Introduction
Bulawayo City Council Mayors Report 5 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Outbreak Name | COVID-19 | Area on Alert | City of Bulawayo |
Date / Time of report | 07 May 2020 | Response start date | 25 January 2020 |
Prepared by | City of Bulawayo | PHEIC Declared 31st January 2020 | |
National Disaster Declared 17th March 2020 | Pandemic Declared 11th March 2020 |
SITUATION UPDATE / HIGHLIGHTS
CASE UPDATE / HIGHLIGHTS
Case # | Byo case # | Diagnosed | Travel | Detail | Possible Contact | Status | Contacts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | 1 | 07 April 2020 | Nil | M/79 | Zim Case 33 | Deceased | 67 |
14 | 2 | 11 April 2020 | Nil | M/53 | Zim Case 33 | Repeat PCR Neg | 24 |
15 | 3 | 13 April 2020 | Nil | F/34 | Not yet Known | Repeat PCR Neg | 58 |
16 | 4 | 13 April 2020 | Nil | F/52 | Zim case 11 | Asymptomatic | 26 |
17 | 5 | 13 April 2020 | Nil | F/79 | Zim case 11 | Recovered | 107 |
19 | 6 | 15 April 2020 | Nil | F/4 | Zim case 16 | Asymptomatic | 2 |
20 | 7 | 15 April 2020 | Nil | F/10 | Zim case 16 | Asymptomatic | 2 |
21 | 8 | 15 April 2020 | Nil | F/34 | Zim case 16 | Asymptomatic | 2 |
22 | 9 | 15 April 2020 | Nil | F/16 | Zim case 16 | Asymptomatic | 1 |
23 | 10 | 15 April 2020 | Nil | F/52 | Zim case 15 | Asymptomatic | 37 |
33 | 11 | 28 April 2020 | UK | M/70 | United Kingdom | Asymptomatic | 39 |
34 | 12 | 28 April 2020 | Nil | M/27 | Zim case 33 | Asymptomatic | 15 |
The City has not had new cases for the past 8 days and in the previous count the City had gone up to 13 days without a new case.
Bulawayo currently has 12 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed cases. Zimbabwe Case 17 (Bulawayo Case 5) has had at least 2 negative repeat PCR tests done at least 24 hours apart and has therefore recovered. The other 10 cases are stable and asymptomatic.
A total of 639 contacts have since been identified, classified and followed up. As it stands the eleven other cases are due to active local transmission. Efforts to prudently implement effective outbreak containment measures are ongoing.
BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL COORDINATION ACTIVITIES
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has different thematic teams participating in the Epidemic response: 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); Suspected / Probable Patient location facilitation. BCC Health Services Department 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 be level 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:
Two numbers are available for direct calls to the rapid response teams (Cell phones courtesy of the Bulawayo Entertainment Industry) i.e.
The current 49(21 + 14 +14) day national lockdown is in effect till the 17th of May 2020. The lockdown has been relaxed to level 2 with some sectors now allowed to resume work on condition that their employees have temperature tests upon entering work premises; hand sanitizers upon entry to sanitize their hands; each employee to wear a face mask in appropriate form; and employees to practice social distancing in the work place.
DISINFECTION
This past week disinfection did not take place. However, in the recent weeks the City used Hydrogen Peroxide to disinfect open spaces characterised by high human traffic. Areas with high human traffic that were disinfected included the Central business district where spraying took place from the 7th to 10th April 2020, the Railway station which was sprayed on the 11th April, 2020 and Residential areas including Nketa 7 shopping centre, Nketa 9 shopping centre, Emganwini (Food 4 Less), Emganwini (Tashas), Sekusile shops, Sekusile Flea market, Bullet Shopping Centre, Nkulumane Complex, Makokoba Shops, Renkini, Entumbane Complex and Entumbane Long Distance Bus terminus, Cowdray Park areas and Luveve (Chigumira/Matsika) shopping centre. The disinfection was applied using water cannons sourced from the Zimbabwe Republic Police. The spray was either aerial or a direct fine spray on shop pavements. Spraying started at 15:00hrs after the close of shops so as to ensure that targeted areas were found clear of human traffic. Communities where spraying was done were sensitised in advance. No challenges were encountered during the spraying process. Hydrogen Peroxide disinfects through the effect of its reduction to water with the release of oxygen. The chemical is therefore environmentally friendly.
Sanitization of the environment is to complement washing of hands, social distancing, cough etiquette etc.
EPIDEMIOLOGY & SURVEILLANCE
In Indicator Based Surveillance the District Health Information System (DHIS2) shows than there is an increase in the number on Acute Respiratory Illnesses (ARI) cases month on month as well as in 2020 comparing to 2019, particularly the moderate and severe types.
In Event Based Surveillance the Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) active since February 2020 have been following up rumours of possible suspected cases of COVID-19 and presently have followed up more than of 230 scares. They have submitted specimens from 977 people that fit the case definition to laboratories for Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests to detect the virus.
Staff members from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC) working with those at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTBRL) located at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo started testing using RT-PCR on the 11th April 2020. By 1000hrs, on the 6th May 2020, between the two laboratories a total of 826 tests had been done with 12 being positive on behalf of Bulawayo City Council. One hundred and thirty nine (139) results were pending.
The screening of all rumours and follow ups of suspected cases received via the Call Centre was done.
The number of travellers that came into Bulawayo to their homes was 1875. Of these at least 1796 (95.8%) travellers had since been followed up by the teams in Bulawayo. Follow up of the other travellers is in progress. The area with the highest number of travellers under surveillance remained Suburbs. The updated lists of travellers that come into the country during the month of April was from official Ports of Entry (PoE) keeps being received and follow ups are ongoing.
Deportees that have more recently come into the country are now placed in mandatory quarantine facilities. The city currently has two such facilities, which are United College of Education (UCE) housing female and child deportees / returnees and Bulawayo Polytechnic for the males. UCE had received more than 300 females while Bulawayo Polytechnic had received more than 400 males. All the deportees tested negative for COVID-19 by both PCR (recently) and RDT (in the past). Hygiene conditions continue being monitored on a daily and remain satisfactory. Social distancing is being encouraged amongst the deportees/ returnees. Jairos Jiri is housing 30 male street kids whose age range is between 13 and 18years old that were rounded up from the streets of Bulawayo.
In Health Surveillance the implementation of protective factors to reduce the general risk of transmission is ongoing. These include activities such as active case finding, intensified shop inspections, health education on key messages that include self-isolation, social distancing, and hygiene practices; with special emphasis on the importance of staying at home. In order to improve coverage Environmental Health students from Matabeleland North were co-opted into the surveillance activities.
Food shops in the CBD are being monitored to encourage social distancing amongst customers while also, checking if sanitizers or hand washing facilities are available at entry points as well as educating on the risks of contracting Covid-19. The shops have generally been compliant with the recommendations to combat the disease. Challenges are faced in supermarkets with mealie meal which attract large numbers of customers resulting in chaos and failure to observe social distancing. The banks and money agents also attract large numbers of people which has resulted in some teams being posted to man those sites all day.
CASE MANAGEMENT
A WHO case definition which includes all age groups is being used. The city remains with 12 confirmed cases of Covid-19 by the 7th May 2020. It remains emphasised that these low figures should not lull health care workers and the community into complacency because a surge in the number of cases remains possible. One 79 year old lady has recovered and 10 cases are clinically stable and asymptomatic with 9 in home isolation and one man quarantined at Elangeni Training Centre.
Trainings of staff by Ministry of Health and Child Care teams are ongoing and held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Hall 3. The BCC offered to orient staff in the surveillance activities and the specimen collection, handling and transportation techniques.
The citywide clinics have been trained to triage patients, elicit epidemiological and clinical history as well as expedite movements into and out of the clinic. Efforts to improve infection control processes are also in place as well as national guidelines for use of personal protective equipment.
Thorngrove Hospital is now undergoing renovations and these include the ambulance wash bay, a disinfection septic tank, a wheel bath at the main entrance gate, extension of the drug store, all internal service roads within the facility have been resurfaced with tar, a new entrance and gate created as well as, a walkway leading to staff rest rooms. The children’s isolation ward has been refurbished as follows: external walls painting, roof painting, repairs of broken window panes, and removal of gutters, yet to be replaced. Two boreholes drilled with one fitted to a Jojo Tank
Inspection of Proposed Isolation/Quarantine facilities such as Elangeni Training Centre and Hillside Teachers’ College to cater for mild or asymptomatic cases has been done. In total sixteen premises have been identified and inspected, including churches, schools, training institutions and lodges, and recommendations on areas that need attention have been made.
RISK COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Still following the master schedule the RCCE team continued giving context specific information related to Covid-19 as well as to respond to any queries.
Risk Communication and Community Engagement is an important component to combating the spread of COVID-19. Risk communication is the exchange of real-time information, advice and opinions between experts and people facing threats to their health, economic or social wellbeing. The ultimate purpose of risk communication is to enable people at risk to take informed decisions to protect themselves and their loved ones. In response to the pandemic, the city has engaged communities, local partners and various stakeholders to protect individuals and families from COVID-19. Various strategies have been used to disseminate information to the community.
COVID-19 Activities
One (1) training was conducted on the 29th April 2020 to the funeral parlour personnel (40). The focus was on handling of bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the burial procedures.
COVID-19 Campaign during Lockdown:
The City embarked on a COVID-19 campaign covering all the three (3) administrative districts in the city. A hailer and PA system are used to disseminate information with assistance from ambulance services. These activities were conducted by City Health Department, Public Relations Section, Ambulance Services, National AIDS Council (NAC), Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ), Ministry of Gender and Women’s Affairs and Nehemiah project.
Key messages disseminated:
Areas Covered were as follows:
The focus for the week was on hot spots which were visited on daily basis:
CBD, (CBD Warnborough Mansions),Robert Sinyoka, St Peters, Mazwi, Hyde Park, Cowdray Park, Luveve, Pumula East, Pumula South, Pumula North, Pumula Old, Lobengula, Northend, Magwegwe North, Magwegwe West, Old Magwegwe, Nketa 7, Nketa 9, Nkulumane Sekusile, Nkulumane Complex, Makokoba, Mzilikazi, Barbourfields, Nguboyenja, Mahatshula North and Mahatshula South.Old People’s homes and Children’s homes reached.
Thembiso Children’s Home and Percy Ibboston Home,
Food distribution Points
Lobengula Brethren in Christ Church
Sexual Rights Centre; areas Mzilikazi, Nguboyenja, Makokoba, Barbourfields, Pumula Old, Pumula South, Pumula East, Pumula North, Magwegwe Old and New Magwegwe, Mabutweni and Mpopoma. Temperature checks were done and 1 client was pyrexial with a Temperature of 38oC, however after screening by one of the nurses and it was established that it was not COVID-19 related.
Observations
Achievements
Challenges
Comments and Way Forward
Social Media:
Various messages on COVID-19 continue to be shared on social media
Radio Programs
Pre-recorded messages continue to be flighted on; Skyz Metro, Star FM and Khulumani FM (Sponsored by; City of Bulawayo, PSZ and Plan International).
Print IEC material distributed
Posters and Flyers distributed.
Health Education Sessions in Health Facilities
Health Education sessions on Covid-19continue to be conducted on daily basis in all health facilities
Estimated Population reached 52 700
Total Mileage Covered: 1 800km
Integration of Services: COVID-19 messaging and EPI Outreach
Mobile Applications: The City of Bulawayo has been working with Sila Health, in sharing and collecting information on COVID-19 towards its fight against COVID-19.
The application, Sis Joyce, is being used to provide information to the community on COVID-19. It works via chat platforms to share information on the signs and symptoms of the virus and it gives users of its COVID-19 assessment tool information on how to access emergency health care.
Since the launch of the App, it has done approximately 5000 assessments (28 days) with the following main symptoms tracked as follows headaches, General Pain and Chest Pain. The App impressions obtained are shown below;
CHALLENGES / RESOURCE GAPS IN RESPONDING
RECOMMENDATIONS & PRIORITY FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
GOODS RECEIVED | QUANTITY | DATE RECEIVED | DONOR | Reporting Week |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Rice | 3 x10kg | 28/03/2020 | Qoki Zindlovukazi(UK based Zimbabweans) | Week Ending 3 April 2020 |
2. Cooking oil | 6 x 5lt | " | " | |
3. Mazoe juice | 3 x 2lt | " | " | |
4. Brown sugar | 15 x 2kg | " | " | |
5. Red Seal flour | 3 x 10kg | " | " | |
6. Food for less White Rice | 2 x 2kg | " | " | |
7. Winna Rice parboiled | 2 x 5kg | " | " | |
8. Gold rice parboiled rice | 1 x 1kg | " | " | |
9. Fiesta parboiled rice | 1 x 10kg | " | " | |
10. Fiesta parboiled rice | 1 x 5 kg | " | " | |
11. Mealie-meal | 3 x 10 kg | " | " | |
12. FFP2 Face Masks | 50 each | 27/03/2020 | PSI Zimbabwe | Week Ending 3 April 2020 |
13. Liquid soap | 80 x 5lt | " | " | |
14. Sanitizer | 11 x 100ml | 27/03/2020 | OPHID Trust | Week Ending 3 April 2020 |
15. Sanitizer | 1 x 5lt | " | " | |
16. Surgical/Face masks | 19 boxes | " | " | |
17. Latex gloves | 36 boxes | " | " | |
18. Bed Sheets | 300 each | 31/03/2020 | Rainbow Hotel Bulawayo | Week Ending 3 April 2020 |
19. Pillow slips | 300 each | " | " | |
20. Bath Towels | 300 each | |||
21. Mealie meal | 8 x 10kg | 30/03/2020 | Thuthuka Bulawayo Trust | Week Ending 3 April 2020 |
22. Rice | 5 x 2kg | |||
23. Instant porridge | 10 x 1kg | |||
24. Royco usavi soup | 4 x 75g | |||
25. Matemba | 2 x 500g | |||
26. Iris biscuits | 10 x 1kg | 31/03/2020 | ||
27. Instant porridge | 3 x 1kg | |||
28. Face Masks | Bulawayo Babies | Week Ending 3 April 2020 | ||
29. Solar Back Up Power System | 15/04/2020 | Chloride Zimbabwe | Week Ending 3 April 2020 | |
30. Surgical Gloves | 30 pair | 02/04/2020 | MoHCC (Byo Natpharm) | Week Ending 10 April 2020 |
31. Face masks | 30 each | " | " | |
32. Gown(Aspace) | 25 each | " | " | |
33. Medical Goggles | 20 each | " | " | |
34. Shoe Covers | 25 pairs | " | " | |
35. Thermometers | 9 each | " | " | |
36. Hydrogen Peroxide | 30 x 35kg | 03/04/2020 | Fossil Agro | Week Ending 10 April 2020 |
37. Mazoe Syrups | 18 x 2lt | 01/04/2020 | NAC Nkulumane | Week Ending 17 April 2020 |
38. Mineral water | 48 x 500ml | " | " | |
39. NAC COVID-19 Posters | 500 | 09/04/2020 | NAC Bulawayo Province | Week Ending 17 April 2020 |
40. Disinfectant liquid | 19 | 09/04/2020 | " | |
41. Latex gloves | 400 | 09/04/2020 | " | |
42. Face Masks | 5 x pack of 180 | 09/04/2020 | Well-wisher through Cllr Mabutho | Week Ending 17 April 2020 |
43. Bottled water | 9 cases of 24 x500ml | 10/04/2020 | Nehemiah Project | Week Ending 17 April 2020 |
44. Sticky stuff | 1 packet | " | " | |
45. Pepsi fizzy drink | 1 case of 24 x 500ml | " | " | |
46. Mirinda Fizzy drink | 2 cases of 24 x 500ml | " | " | |
47. Arenel biscuits | 3 cases of 12 | " | " | |
48. Sanitizers (Gel) | 50 x 100ml | 11/04/2020 | WHO | Week Ending 17 April 2020 |
49. Infrared Thermometres | 5 | " | " | |
50. Surgical Masks | 2/pack of 50 | " | " | |
51. Tablets for data collection | 5 | " | " | |
52. Diesel fuel coupons | 500lt | " | " | |
Airtime | US$500.00 | " | " | |
54. 200 sets of protective personal equipment | (400 Overalls, 400 Aprons, 2000 gloves, 2000 Dust masks , 2000 shoes covers) | Donated 9 /04/2020 Handed over 23/4/2020 | Old Mutual and CABS | Week Ending 17 April 2020 |
55. Fully Equipped Borehole at Thorngrove | 14/04/2020 | Bravo Borehole Drillers | Week Ending 17 April 2020 | |
56. Health Workers Gowns | 40 | 12/4/2020 | Bulawayo Entertainment Industry Association | Week Ending 17 April 2020 |
57. Groceries | ZWL$25,000 | 21/4/2020 | Amavevane Social Football Club | Week Ending 24 April 2020 |
58. Personal Protective Equipment (Sanitisers, Surgical Masks & Gloves) | 21/4/2020 | Nedbank through Iam4Byo fighting against COVID-19 | Week Ending 24 April 2020 | |
59. Gas Stove, 15 kg Gas cylinder, Supply of LP Gas during the COVID19 pandemic | 21/4/2020 | Value Gas | Week Ending 24 April 2020 | |
60. Sanitisers, Hydrogen Peroxide & Masks, Digital Advertising Space at Bradfield shopping centre | 21/4/2020 | Solatek Motor spares & Digitech Advertising | Week Ending 24 April 2020 | |
61. Hydrogen Peroxide | 23 April 2020 | Tierra Marketing | Week Ending 24 April 2020 | |
62. Personal Protective Equipment | 2.N95 masks x 400 2.Space suits x 30 3.Plastic aprons x 5 rolls 4.Googles x 20 5.Shygmometer x 5 6. Gloves x 10 boxes (500) 7. Bin liners x 10 rolls 8. Surgical Masks x 400 | 28/4/2020 | Ezra Sibanda Initiative | Week Ending 01 May 2020 |
63. PPE Bread | 50 x 5 litres Sanitisers 84 x 2litres dishwasher 50 loaves of Bread | 28 April 2020 | Chicken Inn Football Club | Week Ending 01 May 2020 |
64. Risk Communication Material | 28/4/2020 | Danish Church Aid | Week Ending 01 May 2020 | |
65. Clothes | 2 suitcases for Ekuphumuleni Old People’s home | 28 April 2020 | Adelaide Shearly | Week Ending 01 May 2020 |
66. PPE | 1440 Face Masks 1000 Gloves 250ml x 20.5 litres | 30/4/2020 | Bulawayo Members of Parliament and Councillors | Week Ending 01 May 2020 |
67. Handwashing Equipment and Sanitiser Units | Four (4) Handwashing Equipment (1 –Thorngrove, 1 Luveve Clinic & 2 Ekusileni Hospital) Two (2) Sanitiser units | 30 April 2020 | Mr Chauke | Week Ending 01 May 2020 |
68. Electric Pot | 150 litres Electric Jacketed Pot | 4 May 2020 | Donald M Sibindi (0772 336 728) | Week ending 8 May 2020 |
69. Personal Protective Equipment | Gloves Slightly powdered MED 10 X100s Face Masks x 50 pieces | 6 May 2020 | Qoki Zindlovukazi (UK Based Zimbabweans) | Week ending 8 May 2020 |
Rehabilitation of Nyamandlovu Boreholes
The City of Bulawayo is pleased that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority has started rehabilitation of the Nyamandlovu Aquifer Boreholes in an emergency programme to augment the City’s Water supply. The team started this week, following receipt of a $10.6 million grant from Government to rehabilitate 15 Boreholes. It is anticipated that that will increase water quantities from an average of 3ML/ day to 8ML/ day. The increase in the raw water supply will assist in alleviating the water challenges currently being faced.
COUNCILLOR SOLOMON MGUNI
MAYOR