Own Correspondent

21 CASES tested positive for COVID-19 this Thursday bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 551.

The patients who have all been isolated are all returnees from South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique. Of the positive cases, 11 are from the Midlands.

As the number of recoveries continues to go up, this Thursday five more recoveries were recorded from Masvingo and Matabeleland North.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has intensified security at all COVID-19 quarantine centres, with 28 escapees having been arrested so far.

Zimbabwe Republic Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi revealed this to ZBC News, adding that they have increased surveillance at all ports of entry.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi highlighted that all the culprits are being returned to quarantine centers and a recent case is one escapee, a man who had been quarantined at a hotel in the capital.

The bulk of the COVID-19 positive cases are returnees from the region and abroad and as such government has intensified management and treatment at quarantine centres to avoid an upsurge in locally transmitted cases.

To date the country has conducted 65 111 tests and of the total number of confirmed cases, 417 are active. Six deaths have been recorded since the first person was diagnosed with the virus in the country in March this year.