WHO Speaks On Reports Suggesting Zimbabwe Is Covering Up Coronavirus Cases

World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Dr Alex Gasasira has dismissed reports which suggest that Zimbabwe is covering up cases of the novel coronavirus.

In an interview with The Herald on Friday, Dr Gasasira said that misinformation was the biggest challenge faced in trying to contain the virus. He said:

This pandemic can be contained if countries do the right thing. Covid-19 by its nature is too rapid to be concealed by any country. By now, if Zimbabwe was concealing any case, they could have come out.

While we grapple with containing it, the greatest challenge we face is misinformation, which is making it very difficult to contain the virus.

He recommended that gatherings are limited as much as possible urging those with symptoms to self-isolate and visit stipulated health facilities.

Members of the public recently suggested that the government was concealing cases of the coronavirus particularly after a Chinese who had been referred to Wilkins Hospital, an institution designated for infectious diseases, died before her arrival.

This comes when cases of the virus in neighbouring South Africa have, as of Friday, risen to 24.

More: The Herald