Ministry of Information secretary, Nick Mangwana says two brothers who returned recently from South Africa have infected eight family members with coronavirus after escaping from the NSSA quarantine centre in Beitbridge.

“Wiseman Ngwenya and Morgan Ngwenya absconded from Beatrice quarantine centre and went home to Madulo Village in Ward 1,” Mangwana said.

“Yesterday (Thursday), tests were done on their family members. Eight out of 18 family members tested positive. These are children below 10 years save for one who is 15 years.”

Mangwana added; “(In) Masvingo, 14 Malawians who had been quarantined at Mushagashe (Training Centre) were repatriated to Malawi yesterday (Thursday). Twelve had been intercepted by police at Nyanda Block along the Harare-Beitbridge Highway. Four had been intercepted at Gokomere when their truck broke down. Two escaped from Mushagashe.”

“The threat to our existence is real, in Gweru, we have 26 contacts to a deceased patient who was admitted at a local hospital for another ailment but later tested positive to Covid-19. Tests are being carried out to ascertain the status of the contacts,” added Mangwana.