Man In Court For Disclosing Someone's COVID-19 Status In WhatsApp Group

A man in Harare, Zimbabwe as been taken to court for disclosing someone’s COVID-19 status on WhatsApp.

The man, Jimmy Mhlanga, allegedly disclosed the positive status of a Covid-19 patient along with other personal information in a WhatsApp group called ‘Think Tank No under 18’. He also revealed details of Zimbabwe Republic Police officers that were suspected to have made contact with the patient.

The mobile phone he used to commit the alleged crime is being held as an exhibit.

Under Zimbabwe’s Public Health Act, it is illegal to disclose “information relating to one’s health status, treatment or stay in health establishment” without their consent.

Mhlanga was remanded out of custody on ZWL $500 bail (the equivalent of US $10).