Zimbabwe is likely to face a hard lockdown in the coming days as a result of the new Covid-19 variant called Omicron which has been detected in the country.
Earlier this week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced level two lockdown measures that include mandatory quarantine for returning citizens and visitors upon entering the country.
Some of the measures also includes a 9pm to 6am curfew, restaurants and supermarkets were urged to close at 7pm whilst bars and nightclubs were ordered to open for only vaccinated citizens.
Addressing young farmers in Harare yesterday, Vice President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga confirmed that the country had recorded its first case of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, raising fears of a hard lockdown in the coming weeks.
“We are doing the genomic sequencing and we have already identified that we now have it (Omicron) in this country and, therefore, must remain vigilant,” Chiwengwa told young farmers in the capital yesterday.
“We want everyone to be safe, so let us be vaccinated and then let us follow the protocols. We don’t want to end up putting extra measures but if we follow these measures, I think every one of us will be safe and we will conquer this enemy.”
The Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa a few days ago.
Up to now South Africa has recorded about 11 500 new Omicron variant cases up from 8 500 cases confirmed in recent days.
Furthermore, scientists also fear that the variant is more contagious and vaccines may be less effective against it.
Meanwhile, Japan, Israel and a number of Western countries have already closed borders to foreigners, in particular from southern Africa.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel said people who are not vaccinated will be excluded from nonessential stores, cultural and recreational venues.
According to WHO, COVID-19 has infected about 6,1 million people in Africa and claimed 152 113 lives.
