Zimbabwe has officially scrapped most of the COVID-19 mandatory measures such as mask wearing and others following an announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the disease was no longer a public health emergency of international concern.
By Staff Reporter
In the Statutory Instrument 102 of 2023, the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantine Chiwenga directed a lift on the mandatory wearing of masks. Further, tourists are no longer mandated to produce COVID-19 vaccination certificates nor should they have negative PCR tests at the country’s points of entry.
WHEREAS the World Health Organisation on the 4th May, 2023, released a statement that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern; AND WHEREAS the Government of Zimbabwe subsequently directed that mandatory wearing of face masks be lifted, that all border control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 be lifted and that tourists no longer be required to produce COVID-I9 vaccination certificates and negative COVID PCR tests at ports of entry or at tourist resorts around the country,” read the SI.
Added the SI, “NOW, THEREFORE, the Minister of Health has, in terms of section 8(1) of the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) Regulations, 2020 (published in Statutory Instrument 77 of 2020), made the following order: — 1. This order may be cited as the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order, 2023 (No. 44). 2. Notwithstanding — (a) section 2(a) of the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order, 2022 (No. 41), published in Statutory Instrument 67 of 2022, returning residents and visitors are no longer required to produce COVID-19 PCR tests or vaccination certificates at ports of entry; (b) section 5 (“public gatherings”)(1)(g), the wearing of face masks at public gatherings is no longer mandatory.”
Speaking recently at a media and science Café to breakdown and simplify the end of COVID-19 as a PHEIC, Dr Lincoln Charimari, World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe COVID-19 Team Lead, the end of COVID-19 said the lapse of COVID-19 as a PHEIC does not mean the end of the disease noting that it no longer constitutes a Public health emergency of international concern.
“For Zimbabwe, I know that there is a Statutory Instrument (SI) in preparation to formalise the discussions held in cabinet following the PHEIC lifting. However, as individuals, you must consider the risk and probably continue observing COVID-19 prevention measures such as the wearing of face masks and sanitising. “It depends on the situation.
“If it’s a crowded place and ventilation is poor and you don’t who you rubbing shoulders with and where they are coming from please just put on your mask. COVID-19 is there, look at the risk and so on. If you are on the bus, if you have a flu, put on a mask. The mandatory wearing mask have been lifted,” he said.
