By Tafanana Kwedu
Government has said only international travellers exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will be subjected to a (Polymerise Chain Reaction) PCR test despite possessing a COVID-19 free certificate.
Yesterday Government announced that as a measure to guarantee the safety of travellers, a resolve was made in line with Statutory Instrument 216 (5) Section 8, which requires travellers showing COVID-19 symptoms, whether or not they have a COVID-19-free certificate, to be tested, and a nominal fee of US$60 be levied on travellers tested at ports of entry, the proceeds of which will be used to replenish laboratory commodities.
Government noted some people had misconstrued this to mean that all travellers will be subjected to PCR test whether they have a COVID-19 free certificate or not.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana said, “To be clear, every international arrival needs to have a COVID-19 Free Certificate. If you show symptoms, you pay US$60 for a PCR test. If you show no symptoms, you are free to go.”
Meanwhile, in the 34th Cabinet Briefing, Government reassured the public that the resumption of international flights and the imminent re-opening of Victoria Falls International Airport on 1 October 2020, are well on course and that the assessments of other major airports has been completed.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care has held a special consultative meeting with all key stakeholders in the tourism industry to provide technical guidance on the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures for the re-opening of the designated ports of entry. Metered taxi operations have been allowed to resume services to allow for the movement of tourists and citizens who are unable to use public transport,” said the Cabinet.
In preparation for the re-opening of the skies, Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has since installed sanitizer booths at Zimbabwe’s three major international airports namely Victoria Falls, Joshua Nkomo and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airports.
