TWENTY-TWO members of two families in Lupane have been
quarantined after they failed to notify authorities about their two relatives
who illegally returned into the country from South Africa and subsequently
tested positive for Covid-19.
They include six adults and 16 children aged between 11
months and 16 years. Seventeen are members of a Sibanda family which was taken
to Mabhikwa High School quarantine centre on Saturday after a relative who had
returned from South Africa evaded screening processes.
The other five are members of the Ngwenya family that was
quarantined on Monday after their relative, who is a son-in-law to the
Sibandas, tested positive.
The two illegal returnees have since been isolated at St
Luke’s Hospital while their family members at Mabhikwa High School wait to be
tested.
Matabeleland North provincial social welfare officer Mr
Macnon Chirinzepi said an anonymous tip-off was reportedly made to authorities
that the two were back home and suspected not to have gone through screening
processes. They were both taken to the quarantine centre where they tested
positive.
“Mabhikwa quarantine centre has 22 community members from
Malunku Village who have been in contact with persons who tested positive for
Covid-19 and had previously joined the community without being tested,” said Mr
Chirinzepi.
He said they will be tested after the mandatory eight days,
a period when any quarantined person gets tested for the novel coronavirus. Mabhikwa High School so far has five confirmed cases.
“The two came back illegally from South Africa and went to
their villages. After their presence became known one was taken to the
quarantine centre where he tested positive. His brother-in-law who had come to
visit his ex-wife was also taken and tested positive.
“The Sibanda family members were taken into quarantine on
June 20 and because the second man had also gotten into contact with his
family, five members of his family were also taken on Monday. They are all at
Mabhikwa waiting to be tested after eight days,” said Mr Chirinzepi.
He said as per procedure, if they test negative, they will
be discharged but will be further isolated if they test positive.
Mr Chirinzepi warned members of the community against
habouring border jumpers saying they risk being quarantined with them in terms
of the country’s laws.
He encouraged people to be on the lookout for border
jumpers.
“We encourage members of the community to make sure our
returning relatives coming from outside the country have gone through the
quarantine processes or show their certificates to community leaders such as
village heads or even chiefs. This is good for both parties because habouring
border jumpers exposes everyone to the dangers of Covid-19. Being quarantined
also affects our livelihoods because if we are all quarantined, no one will
take care of our homesteads and livestock for that period,” said Mr Chirinzepi.
The 22 bring to 32 the number of people at Mabhikwa High
School.
Early this month, six people, four members of the same family
in Victoria Falls were quarantined in separate incidents. The family of four
was quarantined after failing to notify authorities about its 17-year-old
daughter and five-year-old grandson who illegally returned into the country
from South Africa. The other two separately entered from South Africa and
Namibia. They have all been discharged. Chronicle
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