COVID-19 Response in Zimbabwe: The Need for a Paradigm Shift?

Abstract

Zimbabwe reported its first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on 20 March 2020 and the country’s response has largely adhered to international protocols. From the outset of the pandemic, most control measures were premised upon knowledge of breaking infectious diseases’ chains of transmission gained from previous experiences with comparable pathogens. As relatively little was known about the novel virus, and the prospects of effective vaccines were not on the horizon, these tough control measures were deemed appropriate. Two years into the pandemic, a massive evolution of knowledge has transpired, and safe and effective vaccines against the virus are now available, are administered to billions of people, and can significantly reduce new infections, severe disease, hospitalisation, and death from the disease. Based on the understanding of the pandemic and the need to restore socio-economic activities, in this review we propose a paradigm shift in addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 response should take into consideration the local context and tailor-make a response that addresses local challenges.