HARARE, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government is carrying out genomic sequencing tests to determine if there is an import of the Indian strain after a COVID-19 patient in the city of Kwekwe died on admission at a hospital last week.

The deceased, together with his family, came into contact with a relative who came from India on April 29 but was COVID-19 negative.

Further tests done on the relative after the death of the man showed that the relative was COVID-19 negative.

"To date, eleven COVID-19 cases are linked to the case of the person that died in Kwekwe. All positive persons are quarantined at home, are stable and are being closely monitored," information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Tuesday.

She was addressing a post-cabinet media briefing.

To date, Zimbabwe has recorded 38,572 COVID-19 cases including 36,349 recoveries and 1,582 deaths.

A total of 591,808 people and 222,450 have received their first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine respectively.

Meanwhile, Mutsvangwa said citizens coming to Zimbabwe, including those found positive for COVID-19, will now be quarantined at their own expense.

Following the outbreak of the pandemic last year, the Zimbabwean government put in place various control measures, including compulsory quarantine of arrivals at government-designated facilities at the cost of the government.

Later, the government allowed returnees to choose their own places to quarantine, provided they meet the expenses, as government facilities became stretched.

The government also put in place a requirement for tourists, residents, and citizens entering the country to possess a negative COVID-19 test result issued no more than 48 hours before their departure to Zimbabwe. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)