Harare, (New Ziana)– Zimbabwe on Monday recorded 26 new Covid-19
cases, with government announcing that at least six of the cases had
been recorded at two border town prisons.

The new cases take the overall tally of confirmed cases to 203.

“Twenty six cases tested positive for Covid-19 today (Monday). These
are returnees from South Africa (22), Botswana (3) and one local case
who are all isolated,” the Ministry of Health and Child Care said in
its daily update.

“The local case is a contact of a known confirmed case.”

Since the first case was recorded late March, a total of 46 021 tests
have been conducted, the Health ministry said.

“To date, the total number of confirmed cases is 203, recovered 29, active cases 170 and four deaths since the onset of the outbreak on 20
March 2020,” the Ministry said.

Meanwhile, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister,
Monica Mutsvangwa, in a separate update, said at least six cases had
been recorded at border town prisons in Beitbridge and Plumtree.

The two prisons, she said, both had three cases each, with two inmates
and a prison officer having tested positive respectively.

“We wish to advise the nation that we have now recorded positive cases
in our prisons,” Mutsvangwa said after a meeting of the Covid-19
taskforce.

“In order to contain the virus, no visitors are allowed at Beitbridge and Plumtree correctional facilities. The inmates have been isolated within the facilities and officers are now in self isolation at their homes. The institutions have also been disinfected.”

The border town cases were however not immediately accounted for in the overall national statistics announced late Monday.

Mutsvangwa said a total of 149 returnees had absconded from quarantine centres.

“In order to curb cases of absconding at quarantine centres, manpower
levels have been increased,” she said, adding that some of the escapees had since been apprehended by the police.
New Ziana