By A Correspondent- LEAD president Linda Masarira has urged the government to set up a quarantine centre for people coming into the country from areas near the Wuhan region in China where the Coronavirus originated.

In a Twitter thread, Masarira said the country was not ready to deal with an epidemic of this magnitude in case it hits Zimbabwe.

Here is a full thread of Linda’s twitter warning:

1/ Seems like we are underestimating this virus in Zimbabwe. Look at what is happening in Wuhan. The facts are there to see why is this part of the world on lockdown because they know how dangerous the virus is. If we are not careful this will wipe out the human race. @MoHCCZim

2/ We need to urgently push for a quarantine Centre for everyone coming from that China region. Zimbabwe is not equipped to deal with an epidemic of that magnitude. If only one person enters with country with it we are in trouble

3/ I have gathered that there are no longer any people coming from the epi center as China has already instituted massive state wide quarantine. Reports state that there are 22 already in Zim who are under medical surveillance rather than quarantine

4/ So people are just following them up and waiting to intervene if they develop symptoms. We know that this type of virus often spreads before symptoms develop so that’s a potential gap. There is need for precautionary measures to be in place to save lives.

5/ Just next door in South Africa, “Port health professionals routinely conduct temperature screening for all international travellers. Fortunately, OR Tambo International Airport is the only port of entry for all flights from Asia

Kenya and Ethiopia have recorded the first cases of the virus in Africa.