adminRumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
Manicaland has written to the National Covid-19 Taskforce to re-engage local colleges for use of their premises as quarantine centres in the wake of increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases.
Government had stopped the use of tertiary institutions as quarantine facilities following the decision to reopen schools in a phased approach starting with examination classes.
Cabinet last week resolved to close all colleges again as the number of Covid-19 positive cases continued to spike.
Manicaland, which had initially identified eight quarantine facilities, including four colleges, to accommodate returning residents, was left with only four training centres accommodating the returning residents.
Speaking at a provincial taskforce meeting last week, Manicaland provincial medical director Dr Simon Nyadundu said with colleges now closed, it would be convenient for the health teams to have all patients located in centres near Mutare City.
“We have quarantine centres that were identified in all districts, but having all quarantine centres around Mutare is helpful for logistical purposes,” he said. “There are new people still coming in and we need to carry out tests, so there is a lot of movement to and from the quarantine centres.
“Since schools have not opened, we request that if the numbers continue to escalate, maybe the decision not to use those colleges as quarantine centres be rescinded. If we get more people testing positive, we will need to quarantine a lot of people who cannot self-isolate at home. So we really need those colleges to come in and accommodate our people.”
Provincial taskforce chairperson Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said all returnees were being housed at Vumba, Magamba and Toronto training centres.
She said those testing positive to Covid-19 were being accommodated at Rowa Training Centre.
Online Reporter