Parirenyatwa hosptal cleared of corona virus
Health officials have allayed fears that people visiting Parirenyatwa hospital are at risk of contracting coronavirus after misleading social media reports on the whereabouts of a Zimbabwean woman who was placed in isolation at Wilkins hospital when she arrived from China. News that the 27 year old Zimbabwean woman who traveled from Wuhan, China and was placed in isolation at Wilkins hospital, was back in hospital but this time with a mental illness left most people anxious with social media going on overdrive with misleading reports.
Others went as far as warning relatives and friends not to venture anywhere near Parirenyatwa hospital as they risked contracting the deadly virus after it was reported that she was at the health facility. Members of the public blamed city of Harare health officials for not adhering to infection control guidelines which state that anybody suspected of having the highly contagious illness should not come into contact with others. The woman is said to have spent some time sitting among other frail patients in the casualty department at Parirenyatwa.
However, Harare City Health Director, Dr Prosper Chonzi says there is no need for citizens to panic as the woman’s pcr specimen was taken to three different countries for testing and all the results came back negative for coronavirus. He explained what had transpired for the woman to be taken to pairenyatwa. “We did pcr test and her results were negative. We discharged her and put her under surveillance until yesterday when she tried to commit suicide. She took an overdose of amoxicccilin and we took it upon ourselves to assist her. Took her to the nearest hospital which is parirenyatwa for assessment. We are clear that she is coronavirus free. Right now she is at wilkins and we are managing her just like any other patient we are also doing full infection screen and there is no need for members of the public to panic.
Parirenyatwa group of hospitals acknowledged receiving the patient this Wednesday with hospital authorities now reviewing how the case was handled and assessing the facility preparedness to handle similar cases in the future. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe has sent a message of appreciation to the office of the president and cabinet for the support and solidarity extended to the Chinese government and the people of China by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on China’s efforts to contain the spread of covid-19. China also stated that there has been an outpouring of gratitude among ordinary Chinese adding that the show of solidarity by President Mnangagwa boosts the bi-lateral relations between the two nations.
