Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Wednesday confirmed detection of the first cases of the new coronavirus variant that emerged in India, reported Reuters.
Chiwenga, who also serves as Zimbabwe’s health minister, said in a statement the Indian variant cases had been detected among a group of people in Kwekwe, 200 km southwest of the capital Harare, after a student returned from India on April 29. A relative of the coronavirus-infected person died of COVID-19 last week, while 11 other close contacts have tested positive for the coronavirus.
“The nation is therefore advised that this variant B.1.617 is now in Zimbabwe,” Chiwenga said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa confirmed that all the people who came in contact with the traveler and the deceased person have been traced, isolated, and are being monitored.
“To date, eleven COVID-19 cases are linked to the case of the person that died in Kwekwe. All positive persons are quarantined at home, are stable, and are being closely monitored,” Mutsvangwa said.
Zimbabwean health minister issued a travel advisory on people traveling from or transiting from India. He added that all travelers from India will now be subject to a COVID-19 test on arrival even if they have been tested in their country of origin. They will have to undergo a mandatory quarantine at a designated center at their own cost. Travelers will be quarantined for a period of 10 days from the date of arrival.
The Zimbabwean government has made it mandatory for all residents, tourists, and citizens entering the country to have a negative COVID-19 test result that has been issued not more than 48 hours before their arrival in the country.
Zimbabwe has reported 38,595 COVID-19 cases and 1,583 deaths so far. About 600,579 people have been administered COVID-19 vaccines from India and China.
