30 January 2022
Lindie Dube
The Acting President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and Minister of Health and Child care Dr CGDN Chiwenga, has reviewed the Covid-19 Level 2 National Lockdown Measures.
In a press statement that was signed off by his deputy in the health ministry, Prof. Dr. A. Murwira, who is currently acting as Minister of health.
“All persons entering Zimbabwe must undergo a vaild Covid-19 PCR test not more than 48 hours from the time of their departure for Zimbabwe. Those who do not have a valid negative PCR test and a certificate to that effect shall be denied entry into Zimbabwe.
Quarantine for locals, returning residents and visitors is lifted for those fully vaccinated.” the statement read.
A fully vaccinated individual has to be inoculated with the first and second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and may add a booster if need be.
In December when the Level two lockdown was proclaimed and extended the measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 stated that,
“… all returning residents and visitors have to undergo PCR testing and will be quarantined at own cost, for days recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO).
This meant that all arrivals would have to quarantine for 10 days, expect for government officials.
Zimbabwe has taken stern and drastic measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant that was detected in South Africa last year in November.
The restrictions affected visitors, travellers coming through our points of entry and borders.
The lifting of stern measures on those coming through our borders will have a positive impact to the tourism industry as it has been disturbed time and time again by the imposed Covid-19 restrictions and the stringent quarantine measures.
Tourism in Zimbabwe is one of the foreign currency earners for the economy, it boosts the revenue collections creates thousands of jobs, develops infrastructures of a country, and enhances a sense of cultural exchange between visiting foreigners and citizens.
Since the previous measures to curb the spread of the Corona virus had been stringent,especially the issue of ten day quarantine, many tourists canceled their visits into the country.
The ministry of health in its daily Covid-19. analysis said that the country has been recording a decline in the infection rates.
As at 29 January 2022, Zimbabwe had 229 415 confirmed cases, including 218 172 recoveries and 5 333 deaths. To date, a total of 4 265 747 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19.