FACT CHECK: Coronavirus in Zimbabwe? No, viral social media message is false - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 15, 2020
CLAIM: 118 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Zimbabwe.
VERDICT: False. No cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the country
A message that has gone viral on Zimbabwean social media claims Zimbabwe now has 118 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Says the message: “Pandemonium, chaos and panic ensued in Harare northern suburbs yesterday as 118 Chinese nationals were confirmed to have the COVID-19 strain of the CoronaVirus which originated from the Xhuna region in Wuhan, China. Speaking at a press conference yesterday the interim Minister of Health, Dr. Obadiah Moyo, confirmed this to be the case.”
The message is fake news. No cases of coronavirus have yetbeen detected in Zimbabwe.
The Ministry of Health said on Saturday, February 15: “There are no cases of coronavirus and Zimbabwe is on high alert with the national preparedness and response system having been activated. The three major airports, R.G Mugabe, J.N Nkomo and Victoria Falls have all been assessed for their COVID-19 readiness, especially facilities for travellers screening, quarantine and isolation facilities.
A number of ground ports have been assessed to ensure any possible cases will be detected early, diagnosed and refereed appropriately for treatment.”
Speaking in Beitbridge on Friday, February 14, Moyo in fact said no cases had been detected in Zimbabwe. He has also urged Zimbabwean citizens not to travel to China until the outbreak is contained.
At a press conference held on Friday, February 14, Chinese ambassadorto Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun, said no Zimbabwean or Chinese nationals inZimbabwe had yet been infected. He said China is encouraging its nationals tostay in China.
Guo said: “We have engaged Chinese business owners to allow their workers who had travelled to China for holiday to stay there until the situation improves. All unnecessary trips have been suspended. The number of trips between Zimbabwe and China have been kept at a minimum with no case being identified so far.”
CONCLUSION
The social message claiming confirmed cases of coronavirus in Zimbabwe is false.
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