https://www.zimbabwesituation....ba-tells-travellers/



10-day quarantine: Comply or do not come, Charamba tells travellers

December 3, 2021 4:41 PM
Source: 10-day quarantine: Comply or do not come, Charamba tells travellers – #Asakhe – CITE


Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Presidential Communications, George Charamba, has acknowledged that the government took a hard stance by setting new quarantine measures for all people entering Zimbabwe but did so to deal with an impending public health emergency.

Charamba said people expected ‘compassion’ but such ‘tough’ measures were consequences of a pandemic and advised travellers that if they could not comply with the new quarantine measures they must postpone their travel.

On November 30, 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a raft of new measures that included mandatory testing and a 10 day quarantining of all persons entering the country.

However, before gazetting the law, ports of entry such as the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and Beitbridge Border Post did allow visitors and returning residents to proceed home instead of being taken to quarantine.

The government then gazetted Statutory Instrument 267 of 2021 which decreed that:

“at every port of entry all returning residents and visitors have to undergo PCR testing (notwithstanding that they present a PCR negative test from elsewhere) and those found to be negative will be quarantined at their own cost for 10 days, while those who are found positive will be isolated in accordance with the provisions of the principal order.”

With the international community criticised for imposing travel bans particularly for Southern African countries, Zimbabwe has also received criticism for reinforcing ‘poor’ decisions but the presidential spokesperson said the issues were different.

“They are saying don’t travel. We are saying you can travel, as long as you can put up with the inconvenience and costs. That’s our position as a government and it’s not a matter of debating,” Charamba stated in an interview with CITE.

The presidential spokesperson said whatever happened before the gazette was immaterial but there was now an expectation that people adhere to the quarantine rules.

“You must be found in compliance. If you feel you can’t comply, postpone your travel because the rules have been gazetted. The gazette is very explicit and answers all your questions,” he said.

Charamba noted at every entry point, an enforcement officer would guide travellers on agreed places of quarantine.

“As soon as you present yourself at the airport, the position of governments kicks in. An officer of the law will be at hand to guide movement thereafter,” he said.

The quarantine rules applied regardless of whether people had booked flights earlier or made prior travel logistics, said Charamba, who refused to be drawn on answering if one’s home could act as a place of quarantine.

“I can never answer a tactical question. This is the burden of the officer concerned at the entry port who will direct movement to a designated place.”

Charamba added, “of course when in quarantine, you are not in a direct position to be seen by relatives, the idea is you are in maximum protection. It doesn’t matter if you were given three weeks leave, you will be on probation for those 10 days for screening, to see if there is a risk.”

Due to the situation’s complexity, the presidential spokesperson said, “it was ill-advised to travel during this time,” however, added the government “can’t make a decision for you,” as to whether people should cancel their travel plans.

He sympathised with people who made their plans before the discovery of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, noting the same situation also applied to the government.

“So true you didn’t know, so, neither the government. It is beyond you, it is also beyond us as the receiving state but we are doing this for a public health emergency. You are reacting with compassion but we are taking a hard-headed decision to protect society.”

These measures, argued Charamba, were the consequences of a pandemic.

“There are costs involved and that’s the nature of a pandemic. Individuals are bearing the costs, so is society and the government is also bearing costs as we are deploying more screening officers. Destabilisation is the nature of an emergency. It is tough,” he said.

The presidential spokesperson said it was now for the media, as a watchdog, to see if the law was implemented effectively and applied to everyone.

“For implementation efficacy, it’s now for the media to see the compliance at the level of travellers, at the border post and level of officials. Make sure there is compliance but our intention is clear, it’s to do as much screening as possible. Beitbridge border has always been porous but that does not stop us from making a law,” he said.

“This is an emergency, there’s an expectation for compliance. Omicron is highly transmissible. If you feel you can’t proceed, it’s best advised to stay put.”

quote:

at every port of entry all returning residents and visitors have to undergo PCR testing (notwithstanding that they present a PCR negative test from elsewhere) and those found to be negative will be quarantined at their own cost for 10 days, while those who are found positive will be isolated in accordance with the provisions of the principal order.”

First question, going in, even if you test negative do you have to be quarantined?
Second : Is a hunting camp a place to quarantine? More and more, it's getting harder to go hunt.

I hope this is over soon otherwise it will kill the hunting season in Zim this year. If quarantining means staying in a hunting camp then that might be a loophole otherwise Zim in a no go for as long as this is in effect.

I am a CPA with a tax practice and I have tons of PHD/Scientist clients who work for Pharma and Bio-tec companies. They all tell me OTR that this is a virus that will always be with us and will always be mutating. It should be treated like any other flu and we don't need to lose our minds every time there is a new mutation.

Our world is being run by cowardly bureaucrats who are afraid of life.

All politicians everywhere are loosing their mind
This is all about power, nothing more nothing less as they don’t give two shits about people but give two shits about staying in power and testing boundaries of how far power over people can go.. human nature at the worst

quote:

Originally posted by GunsCore:
I hope this is over soon otherwise it will kill the hunting season in Zim this year. If quarantining means staying in a hunting camp then that might be a loophole otherwise Zim in a no go for as long as this is in effect.

I am a CPA with a tax practice and I have tons of PHD/Scientist clients who work for Pharma and Bio-tec companies. They all tell me OTR that this is a virus that will always be with us and will always be mutating. It should be treated like any other flu and we don't need to lose our minds every time there is a new mutation.

Our world is being run by cowardly bureaucrats who are afraid of life.

GunsCore, Your clients are correct.


This sounds like bad news for Zimbabwe.

quote:

Originally posted by Bama15:
[QUOTE]. . .
Second : Is a hunting camp a place to quarantine? More and more, it's getting harder to go hunt.

I am sure a couple of Benjamin's and you can quarantine in camp.

https://www.zimbabwesituation....urth-wave-confirmed/



Quarantine details revealed, fourth wave confirmed

December 4, 2021 3:23 PM
Source: Quarantine details revealed, fourth wave confirmed | The Herald

Quarantine details revealed, fourth wave confirmed
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga
Mukudzei Chingwere and George Maponga Herald Reporters

As it was confirmed that Zimbabwe is now in the midst of the fourth Covid-19 wave fuelled by the Omicron variant, details were given yesterday of how the new compulsory 10-day quarantine for all returning residents and visitors will work.

Those away for less than 14 days will be able to quarantine at home, if an inspection finds their home suitable, while those away for more than 14 days will have to quarantine at a public or private facility at their own expense. Both groups will be given a PCR test on arrival, regardless of whether they were tested outside the country, and both groups will have a second PCR test after five days.

At the same time police announced that enforcement of all lockdown regulations, new and old, was being stepped up. Check points will ensure compliance with the curfew, and bars and night clubs are being checked to ensure only the fully vaccinated are let in, and all businesses, including these entertainment businesses, being checked to ensure the 7pm closing time.

Confirming the arrival of the fourth wave in Zimbabwe and the presence of the Omicron variant, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga said genome sequence of samples from Masvingo and other places had confirmed the presence of Omicron variant in Zimbabwe and said vaccination backed by compliance with public health measures was the only way of dealing with the wave.

Speaking during the clean up of the open space near Masvingo Hospital, the Vice President said Zimbabweans must adhere to Covid-19 rules and regulations to contain the fourth wave and those who had not been vaccinated should get jabbed promptly.

VP Chiwenga cautioned Zimbabweans against complacency as the new Omicron variant was now in the country.

Tests on specimens collected from positive students from Masvingo Teacher’s College showed the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

“Of late, we have been witnessing a lot of complacency with regards to abiding by Covid-19 safety protocols set by WHO and the Government. Individuals are not paying attention to these safety protocols but we need to change from that behaviour because if we are to survive this battle,” he said.

“The recent spike in Covid-19 cases since the beginning of this month shows that we are now in the fourth wave and in fact we have just finished genomic sequencing and as I speak here in Masvingo, we have already established that their new Omicron variant is here from the genomic sequencing done on specimens collected from positive students the Masvingo Teacher’s College.”

The VP said the only way to win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic was to get jabbed.

Government was considering extending vaccination to cover those aged from 12 years as the nation continued to extend vaccination. Other countries have been vaccinating ever younger children as vaccines are proved safe, with Zimbabwe taking the first step recently when Sinovac was certified as safe for those aged 16 and above.

Government would continue to source more vaccines the Vice President said although stocks at present are high and enough for present mass vaccination campaigns.

Going into details of the new measures to contain infection, the Ministry of Health and Child Care updated travel guidelines following the gazetting of the previously announced Statutory Instrument 267 of 2021, so all returning residents and visitors are now having PCR tests on arrival, even if they bring a PCR test result from elsewhere.

Even those found to be negative must be quarantined at their own cost for 10 days, with a second PCR test after five days and if that is positive then they will be isolated.

Those outside the country for more than 14 days can be quarantined for their 10 days at a designated public or private Covid-19 quarantine facility at their own cost, while those that have been outside for less than 14 days may be allowed to self-quarantine at their home, so long as the home passes an inspection.

“Diplomats, VIPs and VVIPs visiting the country on official Government business will be handled through usual diplomatic channels.

The control measures put in place by the Government quickly had the endorsement of WHO, and Zimbabwe’s country representative Dr Alex Gasasira also had some words of advice.

“We all have to remember that Covid-19 is still with us, even though the country has gone through a period where there were very few cases. Because of the risk we have of a more efficient strain, more transmissible variant, we all have to redouble our efforts in preventative measures.”

He noted that after past waves compliance by individuals with health measures went down and that triggered a new wave. “The best way we can guard against the more efficient strain is by redoubling our efforts. We also have the opportunity of the Covid-19 vaccination. Those who have not been vaccinated get vaccinated.”

Dr Gasasira said the WHO does not recommend international travel restrictions, saying screening was the best way forward while movements had to be minimised within the country.

Meanwhile, police have warned the public against disregarding the lockdown restrictions, both those already in place and the tightening up announced by President Mnangagwa and gazetted this week, giving the police the legal authority to act.

In a statement yesterday, police said they had intensified their operations to ensure compliance adding that anyone flouting laid down regulations would be arrested and prosecuted.

The curfew now starts at 9pm and ends at 6am, while business hours remain from 7am to 7pm but these will be enforced. People are also required to follow laid down guidelines on social gatherings, masking and sanitising while only the fully vaccinated will be allowed into restaurants and bars.

All Covid-19 related funerals must be strictly supervised by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and environmental health officers and technicians.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police had intensified patrols to ensure compliance by members of the public to curb the spread of the pandemic.

He reminded the public that only those in designated essential services were allowed to move outside their homes during curfew hours and that all social functions had to end before 9pm when the curfew kicked in.

He said shops, restaurants and bars should ensure they close by pm as directed with police conducting checks, patrols and monitoring countrywide to ensure adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

Police will also be checking that nightclubs and bars admit only the fully vaccinated and those who let in the unvaccinated will be brought to book and no excuse will be entertained .

The police are also stepping up operations to stop people trying to go out of come into Zimbabwe without going through a border post and following laid down protocols.

In his visit to Masvingo Vice President Chiwenga was in the company of senior Government officials including Agriculture, Lands,Water,Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka,Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and EMA officials among others.

Earlier on the VP had first led the lines in picking up litter from an open space near the Masvingo industrial area to mark their national clean up campaign programme.

He toured Stable Plastics, a company in the industrial area that recycles plastic waste and manufactures irrigation and mining pipes using plastic waste.

VP Chiwenga challenged Zimbabweans to maintain high levels of cleanliness saying the national clean up campaign had gone a long way in promoting a culture of cleanliness Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans were supposed to stop littering the environment as some of the garbage comprised materials harmful to the environment, especially non-biodegradable items.

Meanwhile several people yesterday gathered in Ruwa to conduct the provincial clean-up campaign.

The clean-up campaign was led by Harare Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) Mr Tafadzwa Muguti on behalf of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who urged the people to ensure that their places were clean most of the time.

Council workers, Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and various organisations participated in the clean-up.

“Today marks the third anniversary of His Excellency’s clean up campaign which was launched in 2018. Today we are here in Ruwa at George shops standing in for the Honourable Vice President Cde C G N Chiwenga who was also supposed to be here but he also celebrating the same anniversary in another province.

“What we have seen here is very important to teach our citizen to have a culture of cleanliness we specifically chose this place Ruwa which is the next growing town, it is the fast growing industrial hub. At the same time, we are realizing that people need to be more conscientised more about cleanliness without cleanliness It will be more difficult for Zimbabwe to achieve the smart city agenda. I think what the President is asking people to do is not new but is simply asking Zimbabweans to use their common sense for the better good of our nation,” said Mr Muguti who emphasised the need for local authorities to up their game in terms of cleanliness.

quote:

The VP said the only way to win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic was to get jabbed.

I've had COVID and have subsequently been jabbed three times and that is no guarantee that I won't get some variant of it again.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

The VP said the only way to win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic was to get jabbed.

I've had COVID and have subsequently been jabbed three times and that is no guarantee that I won't get some variant of it again.

It has been reported in medical circles that vaccine do not work in lawyers!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

The VP said the only way to win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic was to get jabbed.

I've had COVID and have subsequently been jabbed three times and that is no guarantee that I won't get some variant of it again.

It has been reported in medical circles that vaccine do not work in lawyers!

There is something good in everything!

Until the Covid money train is stopped this will continue. Would love to see an audit of where the money has gone. Wonder how the Mercedes dealerships are doing in RSA and ZIM.

quote:

It has been reported in medical circles that vaccine do not work in lawyers!


There is something good in everything!

Thanks for that vote of confidence, my two good friends!