10 people were tested for Covid-19 in Matabeleland North province after they came into contact with the 38-year-old Victoria Falls resident who was the first person to test positive for the virus almost a fortnight ago.
Health officials collected specimens from the coronavirus patient’s contacts and all the 10 people tested negative.
This was revealed by Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Purgie Chimberengwa. He said:
The first confirmed case in Zimbabwe was reported on a resident of Victoria Falls who had visited the United Kingdom. He had a mild respiratory symptom and was put on symptomatic treatment and is recovering well from the illness.
Contacts of the confirmed case were identified and specimens were collected from them. The province managed to send 11 specimens to National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) in Harare and 10 came out negative including the ones that had been sent by road.
Chimberengwa, however, bemoaned the suspension of flights into Victoria Falls which has made the turnaround period for getting results longer as the specimens are now being sent by road.