GOVERNMENT will block visitors from coronavirus disease infected countries without health certificates certifying they were examined and cleared to enter the country, a Cabinet official said on Tuesday.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
As of March 1, 2020, over 6000 visitors entered via Zimbabwe’s ports of entry, two coronavirus suspects were isolated at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital with their test results coming negative.
Telling a post cabinet media briefing, Information Minister, Hon Monica Mutsvangwa said a total of 6699 travelers had been screened for COVID-19 at the ports of entry and no positive case had been recorded as yet.
“The Minister of Health and Child Care updated Cabinet on the national preparedness and response regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Cabinet was informed that as of 1st March 2020, a total of 6 169 travellers had been screened at our air and ground ports of entry, with the majority through the R.G. Mugabe International Airport in Harare. Cabinet was informed that two suspected cases were detected and isolated at Wilkins Hospital over the weekend. One is a Zimbabwean from Bahrain and the other is a Chinese citizen from Hunan Province,” she said. “Subsequent tests for the two were conducted locally and were negative, the two were discharged, but will continue on the 21 day follow up and monitoring.”
She added that cabinet resolved as additional measures that all visitors from affected countries should hold valid medical certificates of clearance for Corona Virus showing that they have been examined for symptoms and tested for Corona Virus at a designated Government health institution in their country.
Cabinet resolved that all Government Emergency agencies including the Civil Protection Unit have to gear towards preparedness in advance of COVID-19; that Government workers at all borders should work as a team so as to enhance national preparedness against COVID-19; and that spot checks on visitors on the 21-day self-quarantine should continue to be enhanced. Cabinet was informed that the Ministry of Health and Child Care continues to coordinate the training of Doctors, Nurses, Laboratory Scientists, Health Promotion, Environmental Health ad Infection and Control Officers at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital. The trained cadres are expected to cascade the training to all institutions from central hospitals to the clinic level,” she said.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said visitors will be deported if not certified by the Public Hospital Doctors that they do not have signs and symptoms of the coronavirus.
“Entering a country without a visa sees one returned to your country. In the same vein, should someone come negative without a certificate issued by a doctor from a public health institution in that country of departure will be returned and allowed to visit with the certificates. These certificates show the people do not have coronavirus. That’s the law. We are doing this to prevent people with coronavirus from coming in Zimbabwe. We are very stern in this regard to prevent coronavirus from coming to Zimbabwe,” he said.
