Health authorities have since ordered a 21-day localised Covid-19-induced lockdown for the Kwekwe district in the Midlands province with effect from Friday following the recent detection of the deadly B.1. 617 variant in the area.
In a joint statement issued late Thursday, the national, district taskforce and district Covid-19 response team announced they had resolved to impose a lockdown on Kwekwe.
“Efforts of the joint meeting of the Kwekwe District Covid-19 taskforce and the district rapid response team with advice from the Ministry of Health and Childcare head office, have resolved to effect the following measures with effect from tomorrow (today) 21/05/21.
The district has to go into lockdown for three weeks with effective curfew running from 7pm to 6am for the total period of three weeks,” said the health authorities.
“No visitors to all boarding schools and all day schools to observe strict Covid-19 school protocols. Opening business hours to run from 8am to 5pm.”
Bars, beer halls, bottle stores and all drinking places have been ordered to close, while all gatherings such as weddings, church services and all other public and private groupings will also remain banned during the lockdown period.
“All funerals must be supervised by health officials and should not gather more than 30 people,” said the health authorities.
“ZUPCO buses to be engaged so that they avoid bus overloading but must maintain social distance all the time. The taskforce chair to ensure this point is effected.”
As part of the lockdown measures, all contacts will be tested for Covid-19, whether or not they exhibit symptoms.
On the other hand, on discharge, all those who would have tested positive for the virus and have completed 10 days would be mandated to be re-tested with PCR before they are fully discharged.
“All health workers (EHTs, nurses, lab staff and where applicable community-based health workers) who are involved in contact-tracing, active case finding, treatment, lab tests and risk communication must be tested for Covid-19,” said the statement.
“Kwekwe General Hospital to avail manpower (doctors and nurses) to help with sample collection. The district to activate all its quarantine, isolation and treatment centres with immediate effect and these include Bell Medical Centre in Redcliff, Kwekwe General Hospital and Kwekwe City Isolation Disease Hospital (IDH).”
Adjustments, the authorities said, would be subject to reviews as and when is necessary, adding the police would enforce the lockdown measures.
