Coronavirus Watch

A total of 936, 204 deaths have been recorded. Italy still has the highest number of deaths with 13,155 followed by Spain with 9,387. There are a total of 57 deaths world over. The United States has 297 new cases and 8 new deaths. Zimbabwe statistics remain unchanged with a total of eight cases and one death. According to Information from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, a total of 274 tests have been conducted and 266 are Covid-19 negative and 8 are Covid-19 positive.

More testing centers are going to be opened in Bulawayo, Biomedical Research and Training Center (BRTI) and AIBST (Harare) and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. 

Australian scientists begin tests of potential vaccines

Scientists in Australia have begun testing two potential coronavirus vaccines in “milestone” lab trials. The vaccines, made by Oxford University and US company Inovio Pharmaceutical, have been cleared for animal testing by the World Health Organization. Australia’s national science agency will assess if the vaccines work, and if they would be safe for humans. The first human trial took place in the US last month, but skipped a stage of animal testing.

Italy Extends Lockdown 

Italy is extending its coronavirus lockdown to April 13, as the country’s death toll from COVID-19 now tops 13,000 people. The death toll rose by the smallest amount in days, but officials say it’s too soon to declare the epidemic over. The number of new cases, which had been declining, was higher than the previous day. Italy recorded its lowest death toll in more than a week, reinforcing indications that the coronavirus epidemic both there and in Spain may be reaching a plateau

Expert panel to assess face mask use by public

Should more of us wear face masks to help slow the spread of coronavirus?

This question is to be assessed by a panel of advisers to the World Health Organization (WHO). The group will weigh up research on whether the virus can be projected further than previously thought; a study in the US suggests coughs can reach 6m and sneezes up to 8m. The WHO recommends keeping a distance of at least 1m from anyone coughing or sneezing to avoid the risk of infection.

What does the new research say?

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, US, used high-speed cameras and other sensors to assess precisely what happens after a cough or sneeze. They found that an exhalation generates a small fast-moving cloud of gas that can contain droplets of liquid of varying sizes – and that the smallest of these can be carried in the cloud over long distances.

The study – conducted in laboratory conditions – found that coughs can project liquid up to 6m away and that sneezes, which involve much higher speeds, can reach up to 8m away.