The People’s Republic of China on Sunday gave Zimbabwe 30 000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests kits for testing SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus.
The Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Amon Murwira received 1,250 kits each containing 24 tests at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Sunday afternoon.
Murwira expressed gratitude for the donation, saying testing is one of the main pillars in trying to contain this pandemic. He said:
I am very grateful to the People’s Republic of China; we have just received 30, 000 PCR testing kits and since testing is one of the main pillars in trying to contain this pandemic, we take very great pleasure and we thank a lot the Chinese Government, this friendship and this practical gesture towards containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also speaking at the airport during the handover of the testing kits, Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhao Baogang said:
China and Zimbabwe are brothers and sisters, whenever we are in difficulties we help each other, Zimbabwe also helps us a lot.
We hope with the joint effort we can overcome all the difficulties and diffuse the coronavirus.
To date the total number of confirmed cases 982; recoveries 320, active cases 644 and 18 deaths since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.