In a bid to curb the spreading of COVID-19 among returning residents, Cabinet resolved that those travellers found to be positive to the viral disease would be isolated at their own expense said Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Honourable Monica Mutsvangwa in a post Cabinet brief yesterday.

“In order to ensure enforcement of Statutory Instrument No. 108 of 2021 in relation to the country’s ports of entry and exit, Cabinet wishes to advise that citizens returning to Zimbabwe will now be quarantined at their own expense.

“Furthermore, those travellers found to be positive for COVID-19 will be isolated at an isolation centre at their own expense,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Following the dead of a COVD-19 patient from Kwekwe on arrival at Kwekwe General Hospital on 12 May 2021, the public went into panic mode thinking that the Indian variant of COVID-19 was now in Zimbabwe, however tests being done showed that it’s not true.

“To date, eleven COVID-19 cases are linked to the case of the person that died in Kwekwe. The nation is advised that Genomic sequencing tests are being done to determine if there was an import of the Indian strain,” said the Information Minister.

As the country is making efforts to vaccinate at least 60 percent of the population and contain the spread of the viral disease, people are being encouraged to get vaccinated at their nearest health facility.

 “Members of the public are urged to go to their nearest health facility to receive their COVID-19 vaccine so that the country achieves the required herd immunity to control the spread of the disease,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

As of 18 May 2021, 600 579 people had received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines and 231 375 had their second dose across the country.