By A Correspondent- A returnee who last week escaped from quarantine at Marymount Teachers College in Mutare on the 22nd of May has been hauled to court.

The male returnee who appeared in court on the 6th of June after he tested positive for Covid-19 has been placed under institutional isolation at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.

Last week, government revealed that it would soon make public names of those who escape quarantine facilities as part of measures to warn communities of potential risks within their midst.

A total of 149 returnees have so far escaped from quarantine centres, although some have been apprehended and charged.

Speaking during a media briefing on the National Taskforce on Covid-19 Taskforce, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said manpower had been increased at quarantine centres to curb such incidents.

She also said law enforcers had reinforced their operations to encourage adherence to lockdown measures.

Said Mutsvangwa:

“Government wishes to remind the nation that we are still under lockdown. We need to de-congest our public places by only going out when it is absolutely necessary.

In the same vein, Government thanks all communities that have taken it upon themselves to report those who abscond from quarantine centres and those who illegally enter the country.

The importance of the posed risk by border jumpers and quarantine absconders cannot be overstated. Going forward, persons who abscond from quarantine centres will have their details published so that communities are aware of the potential risks in their midst.”

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