UPDATE ON ZIMBABWE’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK Cabinet received an update on the country’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which was presented by the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs as the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on the COVID-19 Outbreak. Cabinet was informed that as at 19 February 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative COVID-19 cases had increased to 35 315, with 30 979 recoveries, 1 414 deaths, a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 4%, and a recovery rate of 88%. Thirty-three thousand six hundred and eighteen (33 618) of the cases were attributed to local transmission.  Active cases now stand at 2 922, while the cumulative number of infected Health Care Workers is 3 999, with 18 deaths.  While the country’s epidemic curve is showing a general downward trend since mid-January 2021, communities are urged not to become complacent and to continue observing precautionary COVID-19 measures as prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the WHO guidelines in order to maintain the declining trend.  Security personnel have therefore been directed to intensify monitoring and enforcement in order to enhance compliance. Regarding primary and secondary education, the responsible Ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to prepare for the inevitable re-opening of schools.  Meanwhile, the training of school health coordinators and the assessment of the schools’ preparations for the resumption of learning is ongoing.  Government is doing its best to ensure that adequate precautionary measures are taken before schools are opened. PROGRESS REPORT ON THE PROCUREMENT AND ROLL-OUT OF COVID-19 VACCINES Cabinet received a progress report on the procurement and roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, which was presented by the Honourable Vice President Chiwenga as Minister of Health and Child Care. Cabinet was informed that the COVID-19 roll-out programme was launched on Thursday 17 February, 2021 at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital. Vaccine distribution and training of vaccinators are underway across the country. Vaccination of target groups commenced on 22 February 2021 in all the provinces. Measures have been put in place to guarantee a steady flow of vaccine doses, and to ensure that targeted groups receive their doses at the appropriate time.  The Republics of India and the Russian Federation have donated COVID-19 vaccines to the tune of 75 000 and 12 000 doses to Zimbabwe, respectively.  The vaccines come on the backdrop of another 200 000 doses donated by the People’s Republic of China.  Meanwhile, Government of Zimbabwe has put together resources sufficient to procure COVID-19 vaccines to cover the herd immunity of 10 million people (60%). Cabinet has approved the request by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to include journalists in Phase One of the inoculation because journalism is listed as an essential service in SI 93 of 2020 and the media plays a crucial role in providing information that saves lives Similarly, the Ministry of