By Grace Kuria
Zimbabwe’s Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga on Wednesday confirmed that the COVID-19 Indian variant has been detected in Kwekwe.
“The nation is therefore advised that this variant B.1.617 is now in Zimbabwe.” Chiwenga said.
This following genomic sequencing test that were carried out on samples collected from a reported focalized outbreak in Kwekwe, 200 km south-west of the capital Harare, which was linked to a traveller from India on the 29th April.
The VP also issued a travel advisory on people travelling from or transiting from India who will now be subject to mandatory quarantine at a designated quarantine centre at their own cost.
The travellers will also be subjected to a COVID-19 test on arrival despite the status of their travelling certificate.
Travellers coming into the country from other countries should present with a COVID-19 PCR test done not more than 48 hours from the time of departure, failure of which this will be done on arrival on one’s expense.
Travellers will be quarantined for 10 days from date of arrival.
