Over 200 under quarantine in Masvingo

Masvingo (New Ziana) – Over 200 returnees, mainly from South Africa, have been quarantined at two centres in Masvingo, a spokesperson for the provincial COVID 19 taskforce has said.

Rogers Irimayi, who is also government provincial information officer, said 222 people were being held at Masvingo Teachers College while 19 were being held at Rupangwana in Chiredzi.

He said the province so far had two functional quarantine centres but plans were underway to open more centres in order to be able to accommodate all returnees as more were reported to be on their way.

Irimayi said the two quarantine centres weree almost full, making it imperative for the province to open more centres.

“Masvingo Polytechnic is earmarked to be a quarantine centre as Rupangwana and Masvingo Teachers’ College are almost full, but the number of returnees is growing each day. We intend to use government facilities such as Alford and Bikita training centres as well. Malipati High School is being renovated to accommodate others so the number of institutions involved as quarantine centres will be determined by the swelling of those returnees referred to the centres,” he said.

The government has set up quarantine centres across the country for people coming into the country to be cleared of Covid-19 before being allowed to join their families.

The mandatory quarantine period is 21 days, with testing being conducted on the first, eighth and 21st days, according to the government’s latest testing plan for returning residents.
New Ziana