HUMAN rights doctors have lashed out at government for extending the national lockdown in the absence of evidence for such cause.

In their fifth COVID-19 Monitoring and Advocacy Report yesterday, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) said in the absence of key epidemiological evidence on the true distribution of COVID-19 in the country, it would be difficult to ascertain the basis for extending the lockdown period.

“Government must conduct focused testing using PCR kits on entry and on exit of the quarantine facilities to curb the spread of COVID-19 within and after the quarantine period.

On the issue of lack of enough personal protective equipment (PPE), ZADHR said most government-run health facilities in the country lacked such equipment, adding “unavailability of PPE is a violation of the High Court ruling which directed government to provide adequate PPE to all health workers”.

Last month, the doctors sued government for failing to provide PPE for its workers in health facilities.