THE number of deportees quarantined at Mosi-oa-Tunya High
School in Victoria Falls to curb the spread of Covid-19 had risen to 29
yesterday, up from eight last Friday while two more people were expected last
night.
A total of 13 women and 16 men returning from Botswana,
Namibia and Zambia have been quarantined while the other two who were already
in town pending logistics are Victoria Falls residents who had returned from
Cameroon.
The Matabeleland North Provincial Covid-19 Taskforce led by
Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo identified the school
as a quarantine centre for the province.
Yesterday the Minister and members of the Joint Operations
Command (JOC) visited the quarantine centre where deportees are housed in
classrooms with the department of Social Welfare taking care of them in
partnership with the private sector.
The returnees were screened using the Rapid Diagnostic
Testing (RDT) for Covid-19 at the border. Minister Moyo assured them that they
would be well taken care of as he explained the purpose of the isolation.
“You are not under arrest and no-one is accusing you of
anything. We are trying to minimise the spread of coronavirus and this is only
a precautionary measure as you will be housed here for 14 or 21 days depending
on what health officials will say before you proceed to your homes after being
tested. This means that you will be in Government hands during that period. As you
noticed on your way here, borders are closed and only Zimbabweans returning
home are allowed in,” said Minister Moyo.
In an interview after the tour of the quarantine centre,
Mkhosana Clinic and Zimbabwe Aids Project (ZAP) Clinic which have been turned
into isolation centres, Minister Moyo thanked the private sector for assisting
to set up the centres.
He said Victoria Falls was ready in the event of any case
that may need clinical isolation.
“Today we as the provincial taskforce were visiting all
isolation centres in the province. We divided ourselves into groups. The
Minister and Joint Operations Command members came to Hwange where we visited
Painted Dog which donated sanitisers and disinfection chemicals in the morning.
We went to Five Miles isolation centre in Hwange which we feel still needs
support from Government.
“The local taskforce identified the place and they are
connecting water and electricity but it still needs beds and other equipment.
However, after touring the isolation centres in Victoria Falls, it shows that
they are prepared and in case we have a patient with Covid-19 symptoms anytime
they can handle it because one of the two facilities is well equipped,” said
Minister Moyo.
Minister Moyo said Government had released RTGS$1.7 million
to the Victoria Falls taskforce through the local authority to assist at the
two isolation centres.
Hwange District Medical Officer (DMO) Fungai Mvura said the
ZAP isolation centre is ready to receive patients while Mkhosana Clinic will be
ready within two weeks.
Besides beds and other equipment, the centre has been equipped
with two portable ventilators procured by the tourism industry. “What is
outstanding is medication and personal protective clothing,” said Dr Mvura.
Matabeleland North Provincial Social Welfare officer Mr
Macnon Chirinzepi said the deportees are from across Matabeleland North while
others are from Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Harare, Kadoma and Rusape.
He said the quarantine centre has capacity for 100 people. Mr
Chirinzepi appealed to well-wishers to donate internet services and a
television set so that the deportees are kept abreast with what is happening in
the country. Chronicle
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