200 Zimbabweans Have Died Of Covid-19 Over Last 7 Days

By Staff Reporter
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January 17, 2021

ZIMBABWE last week experienced its worst week with spiking Covid-19 infections and 200 deaths as the country continues to suffer the consequences of the second wave of the global pandemic.

With health officials saying scientists are still to ascertain whether the new infections are a result of the new strain of the virus or not, figures in the country continue to balloon with the recovery rate tumbling to below 60 percent.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care the country last week recorded 6 382 new infections and 200 deaths by yesterday. Harare had the highest figure of new infections with 2 768 cases while Bulawayo had 332 new cases. In terms of deaths Harare recorded 52 and Bulawayo 30. The country has now recorded 26 881 cases, 15 872 recoveries and 683 deaths since March last year.

In terms of active cases, Harare continues to have the highest number with 4 560 cases, followed by Manicaland Province which has 1 259 cases and Mashonaland East which has 1 091 cases, Bulawayo has the fourth highest number of active cases with 664 infections while Mashonaland West has the least number with 399 active cases. The national recovery rate for the week averaged 59 percent.

Giving her weekly Covid-19 update the Chief Co-ordinator of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva noted that the recent surge in new infections was now causing a strain on provincial teams hence they could be falling short in recording all the recovered cases.

She said they had noted the public concern over the reported low recovery rate. At the peak of the first wave, in July 2020, the recovery rates were reported as above 90 percent on average.

“The recent surge in cases has put a big strain on provincial teams in tracking cases in order to appropriately and timely classify the cases’ clinical status and due to these large numbers provinces have tended to prioritise tracking of moderate and severely ill Covid-19 cases as these need urgent medical attention.

“The delayed tracking of positive cases that are generally well with no signs and symptoms but isolating and recovering from home has resulted in some recovered cases being included in the national recovery statistics a bit late and hence giving the impression that the national recovery rate is low,” said Dr Mahomva.

She said there was a need for the public to change their attitude towards the lockdown noting that if people continued to ignore Covid-19 set prevention protocols and the lockdown regulations new infections would certainly continue to surge.

“We need to take the current lockdown as seriously as we took the first one. Unfortunately, it appears most people are not taking this lockdown seriously. A survey conducted by a team of global scientists in August 2020 confirmed that Zimbabwe’s success in managing the first wave was mainly due to the stringent lockdown measures,” said Dr Mahomva.

Recently health experts predicted an extension of the 30-day lockdown imposed by Government if people continued to deviate from recommended guidelines meant to stop the spread of Covid-19. The country went to level four lockdown at the beginning of the month as the Government tries to contain the ballooning figures.

Among the many facets of the lockdown there is now a dusk to dawn curfew and shutting down of non-essential services.

The essential services’ operating hours have been reduced and now open at 8am and close at 3pm. Public gatherings including church services and weddings have been banned while a maximum of 30 people are allowed to attend a funeral.

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Best Mortgage Refinance Options When Interest Rates Are High

Mortgage refinancing can help homeowners save money, lower monthly payments, change loan terms, or access home equity. But when interest rates are high, refinancing becomes more complicated.

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A mortgage refinance means replacing your current home loan with a new one. The new loan may have a different interest rate, payment amount, loan length, or structure.

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The most common reason to refinance is to get a lower interest rate. But if current rates are higher than your existing mortgage rate, refinancing may not make sense unless you have another financial goal.

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Some homeowners refinance to switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage. This can provide more predictable monthly payments.

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Others use a cash-out refinance to access home equity. This means borrowing more than you currently owe and receiving the difference in cash. The money may be used for home improvements, debt consolidation, or major expenses. However, this increases your mortgage balance and may raise your monthly payment.

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When rates are high, homeowners should carefully calculate the break-even point. This is how long it takes for monthly savings to cover closing costs. If you plan to move soon, refinancing may not be worth it.

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You should also compare lenders. Mortgage refinance rates, fees, closing costs, and loan terms can vary. A lower rate may not always be the best deal if the fees are too high.

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Credit score, income, debt-to-income ratio, home value, and equity all affect refinance approval and pricing. Improving your credit and reducing debt before applying may help you qualify for better terms.

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Refinancing can be useful, but it is not always the right move. Homeowners should compare the total cost, monthly payment, loan length, and long-term savings before making a decision.

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The best refinance option is the one that fits your financial goals, not just the one with the lowest advertised rate.

Employment Class Action Lawsuit: Wage, Overtime, and Worker Rights

employment class action lawsuit, wage and hour class action, overtime lawsuit, unpaid wages lawyer, employee class action attorney, worker rights lawsuit

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Employment Class Action Lawsuit: Wage, Overtime, and Worker Rights

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When one employee is underpaid, it may be a mistake. When hundreds or thousands of workers are underpaid in the same way, it may become an employment class action lawsuit.

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Employment class actions can help workers challenge company-wide policies that allegedly violate wage, hour, discrimination, or labor laws.

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These cases may involve unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, misclassification, meal breaks, unpaid commissions, background check violations, or discriminatory practices.

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What Is an Employment Class Action?

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An employment class action is a lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of workers with similar legal claims against an employer.

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The workers may have been affected by the same:

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Pay policy
rnTimekeeping system
rnJob classification
rnBreak policy
rnCommission plan
rnBackground check process
rnHiring practice
rnScheduling practice
rnWorkplace rule

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In federal court, class actions must satisfy Rule 23 requirements, including common legal or factual questions and adequate representation.

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Common Employment Class Action Claims

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Unpaid Overtime

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Employees may claim they worked more than 40 hours per week but were not properly paid overtime.

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Off-the-Clock Work

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Workers may claim they were required to work before clocking in, after clocking out, during unpaid breaks, or while responding to messages outside scheduled hours.

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Misclassification

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Some workers may claim they were wrongly classified as independent contractors or exempt employees.

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Meal and Rest Break Violations

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State laws may require certain meal or rest breaks. Violations can affect many workers.

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Unpaid Commissions or Bonuses

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Sales employees may bring claims over unpaid commissions, incentive pay, or bonus plans.

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Discrimination Class Actions

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Workers may challenge company-wide discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, or termination.

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What Evidence Helps Workers?

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Useful evidence may include:

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Pay stubs
rnTime records
rnSchedules
rnEmails
rnText messages
rnCompany policies
rnEmployee handbook
rnJob descriptions
rnCommission agreements
rnClock-in records
rnWitness statements
rnPerformance records

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Workers should save documents when legally allowed and avoid deleting important communications.

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Can You Be Fired for Joining a Lawsuit?

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Retaliation laws may protect employees who assert workplace rights. However, retaliation issues can be complicated.

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If you fear retaliation, speak with an employment lawyer before taking action.

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Class Action vs. Collective Action

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Wage cases may involve class actions, collective actions, or both, depending on the law.

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For example, some federal wage claims use a collective action process where workers may need to opt in.

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The exact procedure depends on the claim and jurisdiction.

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What Can Workers Recover?

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Employment settlements may include:

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Unpaid wages
rnOvertime pay
rnPenalties
rnInterest
rnPolicy changes
rnAttorney fees
rnInjunctive relief
rnRecordkeeping improvements

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The amount depends on the case, law, number of workers, and damages.

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What Employers Usually Argue

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Employers may argue:

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Workers were properly paid
rnEmployees were exempt
rnTime records are accurate
rnClaims are too individualized
rnClass treatment is improper
rnPolicies were lawful
rnDamages are overstated

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Employment class actions can be strongly contested.

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When to Contact an Employment Class Action Lawyer

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You may want legal help if:

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Many workers have the same pay problem
rnOvertime was denied
rnEmployees worked off the clock
rnBreaks were missed due to company policy
rnWorkers were wrongly treated as contractors
rnPay stubs do not match hours worked
rnA company-wide policy seems unfair or illegal

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Final Thoughts

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Employment class action lawsuits can help workers challenge widespread workplace violations.

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If your employer’s pay or workplace policy affected many employees the same way, legal options may exist.

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Save records, avoid guessing, and speak with a qualified employment attorney.