Three people collapsed and died in different places in Masvingo on Wednesday morning, raising fears that a more lethal SARS-CoV-2 strain could be circulating in the city.
One person collapsed and died in the CBD and another in the populous suburb of Mucheke D at around 9 am today, Masvingo Mirror reported.
A third person, a woman aged 80, also collapsed and died in Runyararo West at around 7 am.
Health officials who spoke to publication on condition of anonymity said they are on maximum alert for COVID-19 cases as they collect these bodies.
The body from Runyararo West was collected by officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care at around 10 am.
All three are elderly women and Masvingo Mirror was told that the Ministry of Health has started contact tracing.
The first woman collapsed and died while using a toilet at Landmark Bar at around 8:45 am and her body was removed by the Police and Ministry of Health officials at around 10 am.
The body of the woman (75) from Mucheke D was removed by a Nyaradzo Funeral Services ambulance at around 12pm.