By Romio Takundwa
Minister of Health and Childcare, Constantino Chiwenga yesterday announced that the deadly Covid-19 variant predominantly found in India has been detected in Kwekwe after tests were carried out.
The genomic sequencing tests were carried following the death of businessman, Robson Kadenhe from Covid-19 complications.
He had made contact with his granddaughter who returned from India on the 29th of April.
India has been identified as a high risk covid-19 transmission area after recording 25.8 million cases, 22,5 million recoveries and over 300 thousand deaths to date.
Chiwenga said the tests conducted revealed that the Indian variant B.1.617 is now in Zimbabwe and travellers from or enroute India are now subjected to mandatory quarantine.
“The nation is therefore advised that variant B.1.617 is now in Zimbabwe and people travelling from or transiting from India will be subject to mandatory quarantine at a designated quarantine centre at their own cost. These travellers will be subjected to Covid-19 tests on arrival despite the status of their travelling certificate,” he said.
Earlier this week whilst addressing journalists Kwekwe Mayor, Angeline Kasipo had said Kadenhe’s granddaughter who recently returned from India had tested negative of the Indian Covid-19 variant.
“’Mr Kadenhe died of covid-19 related illnesses. We have to be cognisant of the fact that the granddaughter who had travelled from India tested antigen negative. Therefore we cannot speculate that she brought the virus, we mustn’t speculate”, she said.
