All travelers entering Zimbabwe, including returning residents, will have to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Tuesday.
Mnangagwa, who made the announcement in a televised address on state TV, said Zimbabwe was facing an “added risk” which compounds the burden we already face
“All returning residents and visitors have to undergo PCR testing, and will be quarantined at own cost, for days recommended by WHO, even if they present negative PCR test results from elsewhere,” Mnangagwa said.
He said with immediate effect, all returning residents and visitors will undergo PCR testing and quarantine at their own costs, curfew hours have been increased to run from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., no alcohol will be consumed at bottle stores while night clubs and bars will admit vaccinated clients only.
COVID-19 related funerals will be supervised by health authorities while restaurants now close at 7 p.m.
Mnangagwa also urged the unvaccinated population to get vaccinated.
“Let me reiterate that the government requires individuals and communities to continue adhering to all the recommended prevention measures, including social distancing, wearing face masks properly, avoiding closed spaces, washing hands with soap and under running water, sanitizing and of course getting fully vaccinated,” Mnangagwa said.
Also on Tuesday, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the new COVID-19 variant may already be circulating in Zimbabwe and the government will strengthen prevention and control measures to stem a fourth wave of the pandemic.
Addressing a post-cabinet media briefing, Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe’s national committee on COVID-19 had already designated Omicron a variant of concern in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Following the discovery of the new variant in South Africa, Zimbabwe is among several southern African countries that have already been hit with travel bans by several Western countries.
To date, Zimbabwe has recorded 134,625 cases, with 4,707 deaths, according to the country’s health ministry.
A total of 3,794,549 people in the country have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 2,816,543 their second dose, as authorities aim to inoculate 60 percent of the population by year-end.
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