By Nokuthaba Dlamini
The number of people at quarantine centres in Matabeleland North continues to decline with the three functional centres going for several days without receiving any returnees.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of Zimbabweans have been trekking back into the country, due to lockdown regulations in most countries to combat the spread of the pandemic.
This resulted in a number of quarantine centres put up by the government being overwhelmed.
However, the number of returnees seems to be going down.
According to Social Welfare daily updates reports, the province’s main quarantine centres currently have 13 inmates.
In the past months, the quarantine centres, Encore Budget hotel in Victoria Falls and Inyathi Training Centre in Bubi district, received on average 20 people on a daily basis, prompting the government to look for more facilities in various districts to be used as back up.
Phezulu lodge in Victoria Falls is being used as a private quarantine centre where returnees pay US$ 85 per day for their accommodation including other services.
As of yesterday, Sunday, the province received only one returnee.
“As at the time of the report we had received 1 male adult returnee from Namibia,” the daily update report read.
“The cumulative total of returnees that have been received since the inception of the centre now stands at 250 returnees being 147 males and 102 females and 15 migrants to other countries.
“Of the 15, 4 were males in transit 2 to Namibia, 2 to Uganda, 1 to Somalia and 5 males, 5 females to DRC,”adding that they have since been deported to their countries.
“The capacity of the centre is 100 while the current enrolment of returnees is 11 being 5 males and 6 females.”
Inyathi Training Centre did not receive any returnees yesterday and there were no inmates who were discharged at the centre.
“The centre has a capacity of 55 and currently has an enrolment of 2 female returnees,” the report continued.
“The cumulative number of returnees who have been received at the centre since its inception is 132 returnees being 93 males and 39 females.”
Phezulu Lodge, like other centres, did not receive any returnees.
The centre is currently unoccupied and has hosted a total of 37 returnees since its inception being 19 males and 18 females.
All discharged returnees are being given their COVID -19 test certificates to help them reintegrate back into their communities without challenges.
