THE 32-year-old
Chinese visitor, who was quarantined at Wilkins Hospital’s specialised unit in
Harare for a suspected case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was discharged yesterday
after tests came out negative.
The traveller arrived at Robert Gabriel Mugabe
International Airport from Hunan Province in China on Sunday afternoon and was
taken to Wilkins Hospital for isolation and tests.
Though the Chinese national had no signs and symptoms of
COVID-19, he was taken for isolation because he had a positive travel history.
As of yesterday, the virus had infected more than 80 000
across 58 countries, with more than 3 000 people reported dead.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo confirmed that
the results of the tests carried on the Chinese national came out negative.
He made the remarks during an inter-ministerial meeting
with Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Local
Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, Health and Child Care Deputy
Minister John Mangwiro, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services
secretary Nick Mangwana, Foreign Affairs and International Trade secretary,
Ambassador James Manzou and ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga.
Minister Moyo dismissed an article on social media
suggesting that the Chinese national who was isolated at Wilkins had tested
positive for COVID-19.
“There is a lot of misinformation, which is circulating on
social media and it has caused unnecessary panic and despondency among
Zimbabweans,” he said. “This is not the first time that people have circulated
false news, as Zimbabweans we should be careful with the information that we
circulate on social media.
“We have not recorded any COVID-19 case in Zimbabwe and we
intend to keep it that way. We are working on improving our isolation
facilities at Wilkins Hospital in Harare and Thorngrove Hospital in Bulawayo.”
Minister Moyo said the tests showed that the country’s
laboratory testing for COVID-19 was also fully functional.
“So, we can still guarantee the nation that there is no
coronavirus in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“We will, however, as per protocol, continue to monitor
this candidate for the 21-day prescribed period.
“Our protocol continues to be stringent and protective of
our nation and to further strengthen our surveillance. We continue following a
scientific approach requiring all travellers coming from China to be screened
and quarantined for 14 days in China and if they are found to be safe they will
be issued with a clearance certificate to travel.
“When they come to Zimbabwe, they will still be subjected
to a further 21-day self-quarantine.”
Harare City health director Dr Prosper Chonzi said they had
evacuated all the patients who were at Wilkins Hospital.
“As per procedure, we evacuated them to Beatrice Infectious
Hospital, so right now Wilkins Hospital is not functioning fully, but by end of
this week it will be operational,” he said.
“We admitted this patient on Sunday for a suspected
coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. We placed him under isolation because that is
what is required of us to do if one is suspected to be carrying the virus and
we isolated him at Wilkins Hospital.
“The reason for admission was that he had a positive
history of travel. He has done very well and we have since done the PCR tests
for coronavirus.
“It has turned out to be negative and we are happy with the
clinical health of the patient and we have since decided to discharge him and
follow up on him for the next 21 days to see if he develops any kind of fever
or symptoms of Covid-19.”
Dr Chonzi said the man showed neither signs nor symptoms of
the virus and having tested negative there was no reason to keep him in
hospital any longer.
“When he was admitted, he was not symptomatic, he had no
cough, no high temperature and no signs of respiratory distress,” he said.
“We doubt very much that he will develop any kind of
symptoms.” Herald
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