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Herald Reporters

THE Midlands Provincial Covid-19 Taskforce has opened a second quarantine centre at Mkoba Teachers’ College after being overwhelmed by the increasing number of returnees from neighbouring countries who have filled up the first quarantine centre at Gweru Polytechnic College.

Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Larry Mavima said there were now 195 people under quarantine after the province received another batch of returnees recently, with Gweru Polytechnic only having capacity for 118 people.

“We have moved the other 77 to Mkoba Teachers College after our initial centre was full and we are expecting more.

“Initially, we were told 17 people were coming from Beitbridge on the first day and we ended up having 75 people. As of today (yesterday), we have a total of 195 returnees and our initial quarantine centre — Gweru Polytechnic College — has a holding capacity of 118,” he said.

Senator Mavima said the returnees, who were ferried by Zupco buses, would be housed for at least eight days while undergoing screening and testing for Covid-19.

He said those that tested positive would be sent to isolation treatment centres while those who tested negative would be released.

Senator Mavima said the province had adequate food to feed the returnees while in quarantine after the taskforce received various donations.

“We continue to receive support from the corporate world in terms of food and other consumables needed by those in quarantine,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kwekwe Mayor Councillor Angeline Kasipo has pledged to accommodate more returnees in case Gweru quarantine centres are full.

She said the city has identified two schools, Kwekwe High and Junior as quarantine centres.

“Kwekwe High can accommodate up to 120 people while the junior school has the capacity to accommodate another 80.

“At the moment, we are yet to receive any inmates,” she said.

In Manicaland, the rehabilitation of Mutare Infectious Diseases Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), which was designated as the city’s isolation centre, has been completed with the institution now awaiting delivery of equipment.

Work at the ICU has been ongoing for almost two months with funding from Mutare City Council, Treasury and the Mutare business community.

Mutare mayor Councillor Blessing Tandi said the completion of the centre was a huge relief as the city had been lagging behind in terms of isolation centres.

“We are happy to announce that all the outstanding internal works at the ICU have been completed with the help of the Mutare business community and central Government.

“What is now left is the equipment for the centre,” he said.

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said the completion of the isolation centre was a vote of confidence for the province as most of the work had been done by local businesses.

“MIDH has been given a major facelift and we mobilised all skills we had from all Government institutions, Mutare City, Ministry of Local Government, the army and police and we also roped in the business community.

“We have made quite a saving as we utilised the resources that we have in the province.

“We are also using the same approach at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.

“Since this is a big hospital, we have come up with three shifts where our artisans come in so that we complete work in the shortest possible time,” she said.

Government last week released $12 million to the Mutare City Council and part of the funds are being used to purchase equipment for the ICU.

Once equipped, the centre would have capacity to hold 10 patients, while the hospital’s main wing, which is also being rehabilitated, will house 30 patients.

Manicaland has identified 23 isolation centres across the province with Mutare hosting two centres at MIDH and Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.