Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Wednesday government had banned government officials from travelling outside Africa as Zimbabwe takes further measures to keep the country free of the deadly COVID-19.

Addressing a meeting of the ruling Zanu PF Politburo, President Mnangagwa also urged Zimbabweans in general to minimise unnecessary travel outside the country.

Popularly referred to as coronavirus, COVID-19 has so far killed more than 3 200 people, mainly in China where it originated, and is rapidly spreading around the world.

It has been declared a public health emergency requiring an urgent
co-ordinated global response by the World Health Organisation.

“I have now restricted travelling outside Zimbabwe, in particular outside the continent. For those in government, (I) have banned but I also appeal to Zimbabwean citizens to desist from travelling outside the continent,” President Mnangagwa said.

The ban comes a day after government announced new stricter control
measures against COVID-19, including requiring travellers from countries
affected by the disease to produce health certificates certifying that they
are free of the virus before being allowed entry into the country.

So far, over 75 countries have confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Unlike other African countries, which went as far as suspending flights to and from China, the epicentre of the virus, Zimbabwe had only been screening visitors on entry without requiring certificates and quarantining suspected cases for tests.

Two travellers, a returning resident and a Chinese national, have been
quarantined, but their test results returned negative and were discharged.

President Mnangagwa said the Ministry of Health and Childcare and its
partners were “adequately prepared to handle any possible cases of
COVID-19.”

“We continue to urge our people to minimise the risk of exposure,” he said.
As of March 1, 2020, a total 6 169 travellers had been screened at the
country’s air and ground ports of entry.
New Ziana