Last updated:   [12/04/21]

Health Alert – U. S. Embassy (Harare, Zimbabwe) (November 29, 2021)

Location: Southern African Countries

Event:  On November 26, the White House announced a travel restriction due to the detection in Zimbabwe of a variant of the SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The policy does not apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and certain other categories of travelers. See the text of the announcement here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/11/26/a-proclamation-on-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-nonimmigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease-2019/.  The new restrictions and requirements take effect today, November 29. The CDC has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice – Do Not Travel for Zimbabwe.   Subsequently, the Department has updated the Travel Advisory for Zimbabwe to a Level 4 – Do Not Travel.

U.S. citizens wishing to depart Zimbabwe currently have limited options via commercial air and land border crossings. Transportation schedules can change without notice. Please check with airlines/carriers regarding flight cancellations and/or restrictions. The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to have a departure plan that does not include government assistance.

Please see contact information for airlines operating from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare below.

Robert G. Mugabe International Airport in Harare:
Website: https://www.caaz.co.zw/rg-mugabe-airport

Ethiopian Airlines
Website: https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/
Local office: https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa/contacts/zimbabwe

Kenya Airways
Website: https://www.kenya-airways.com/
Local office: https://www.kenya-airways.com/contacts/

Airlink
Website: https://www.flyairlink.com/
Local office: https://www.flyairlink.com/need-help/branch-contacts

Fastjet
Website: https://www.fastjet.com/
Local office: https://www.fastjet.com/en/footer-contact/customer-service-call-centre#anchor-zimbabwe

British Airways/Comair
Website: https://www.britishairways.com/
Local office: https://www.britishairways.com/en-de/information/help-and-contacts/contact-us?aboutCountry=ZW

South African Airways
Website: https://www.flysaa.com/
Local office: https://www.flysaa.com/help/customer-support/contact-us

Out of Johannesburg:
United Airlines
Website: https://www.united.com/

Delta Airlines
Website: https://www.delta.com/

Ethiopian Airlines
Website: https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/

Actions to Take:

• Review the CDC’s travel health notice for Zimbabwe. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-zimbabwe
• Review the State.Gov Travel Alert for Zimbabwe. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/zimbabwe-travel-advisory.html
• Review the South Africa National Institute for Communicable Diseases FAQ on B.1.1.529
• Check with airlines and transit and destination countries for how it impacts travel.

Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Harare
Phone number: 0867-701-1000
Email address: ConsularHarare@state.gov
Embassy/Consulate website: https://zw.usembassy.gov/

State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

**** All air passengers 2 years or older with a flight departing to the US from a foreign country at or after 12:01am EST (5:01am GMT) on December 6, 2021, are required show a negative COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 1 day before travel, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days, before they board their flight. Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions..

CDC will consider individual waivers of this requirement in exigent circumstances where emergency travel is required to preserve health and safety (e.g., emergency medical evacuations) and where pre-departure testing cannot be accessed or completed before travel.

Although requests for a waiver that meet all the criteria will be given due consideration, the CDC expects that waivers will be rare.

To apply for such waivers, travelers or travelers’ carriers can contact the U.S. Embassy in Harare, or call the Department of State headquarters: From the United States and Canada: 888-407-4747; from overseas: 202-501-4444.

• The CDC has determined that for the purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include those FDA approved or authorized, as well as vaccines with an emergency use listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO).  See cdc.gov for more details. Of vaccines available in Zimbabwe, only the Sputnik V does not meet this requirement.
• Fully vaccinated air travelers will continue to be required to show documentation of a pre-departure negative viral test from a sample taken within three days of travel to the United States before boarding. That includes all travelers – U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals.
• Unvaccinated travelers – whether U.S. citizens, LPRs, or the small number of excepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to show documentation of a negative viral test from a sample taken within one day of travel to the United States.

Please visit Travel.State.Gov FAQs for more details, including information about children travelers, and answers to frequently asked questions about the new proof of vaccination policy.

Country-Specific Information

• Zimbabwe has 135,337 confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 4,707 deaths as of December 2, 2021.
• People must wear face masks in public and observe social distancing, defined as keeping a distance of at least one meter from any other individual.
• On December 1, 2021, the Government of Zimbabwe announced the stricter COVID prevention measures:
• Every person under the age of 61 months arriving in Zimbabwe is required to have a negative PCR test taken within the previous 48 hours.
• Every person under the age of 61 months will be required to take a PCR test at the airport upon arrival.
• Persons who test negative will quarantine at their own expense for ten days.
• Persons who test positive will go into isolation.
• Businesses are to be open from 7AM to 7PM only.
• A curfew is in place from 9PM to 6:00AM.
• Businesses are to operate at a maximum of 50% of staff on site, with the rest teleworking.
• Restaurants, bars, and night clubs may serve vaccinated persons only.
• Public gatherings are not to exceed 100 people.

COVID-19 Testing

• Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Zimbabwe? Yes
• If so, are test results reliably available within 24 hours? Yes

• Below is the list authorized by the Government of Zimbabwe of assessed and certified medical Laboratories for SARS-CoV-2.

  • Note that this list of labs is different from the list of labs approved for the Trusted Travel Platform for COVID-19 tests that meet entry and exit requirements for Zimbabwe. More details on the requirements for COVID-19 tests for entry or exit to or from Zimbabwe is below in the “Entry and Exit Requirements” section.
• Private Laboratories
  1. Lancet Medical Laboratories, St Annes Hospital – Harare
  2. Lancet Medical Laboratories, Baines Avenue- Harare
  3. Lancet Medical Laboratories, Borrowdale Racecourse, Harare
  4. Lancet Medical Laboratories- Boscobel – Harare
  5. PSMI Medical Laboratories 132 Samora Machel Avenue – Harare
  6. PSMI Medical Laboratories Parkview – Harare
  7. PSMI Medical Laboratories Immuno Diagnostic Centre, -Harare
  8. PSMI Medical Laboratories, West End Hospital – Harare
  9. Cimas Medical Labs 60 Baines Avenue – Harare
  10. Cimas Medical Labs High glen – Harare
  11. Cimas Medical Labs, Borrowdale Park- Harare
  12. Cimas Medical Labs, Montagu Clinic- Harare
  13. Diagnopath laboratory- Harare
  14. Klosad Laboratory- Harare
  15. Multi Tech Medical Laboratories – Harare
  16. Flow Cytometry Medical Laboratory – Harare
  17. Haematology Centre – Harare
  18. Bioexpress Medical Laboratory – Harare
  19. Genau Medical Laboratories – Harare
  20. Pathology Medical Laboratory-Harare
  21. Upper East medical Centre, Avondale – Harare
  22. Biotech Institute, Avondale West -Harare
  23. Humacare Medical Laboratory, Longcheng -Harare
  24. Interpath Medical Laboratory -Harare
  25. Mbuya Dorcas Medical Laboratory – Harare
  26. Urea Breath Centre – Harare
  27. Baines Pathology Laboratory – Harare
  28. Dynacare Medical Laboratories – Harare
  29. Corporate 24 Medical Laboratories – Harare
  30. Genomix Medical Centre Laboratory – Harare
  31. Genopath (Pvt) Ltd – Harare
  32. Omnipath Medical Laboratories – Harare
  33. Belvedere Medical Centre – Laboratory – Harare
  34. Suburban Medical Centre Warren Park – Harare
  35. Suburban Medical Centre Westwood – Harare
  36. Rapha Medical Laboratories – Harare
  37. Premium Diagnostic Centre- Harare
  38. Ace Air & Ambulance Services (Pvt) Ltd – Harare
  39. Immunopath Diagnostic Laboratory Services – Harare
  40. Zenezek Medical Laboratories –Harare
  41. Precision Medical Laboratories -Harare
  42. Lordsland Medical Laboratory – Harare
  43. Mars Clinical Laboratories – Harare
  44. Five Avenue Medical Centre – Harare
  45. Real Medical Laboratories – Harare
  46. UZ-CTRC Family Health Centre Dept – Harare
  47. UZ-CTRC – Obs & Gynae Dept – Harare
  48. Gamma Allergy & Immunology Lab- Harare
  49. Newlands Clinic- Harare
  50. Vislink Investments t/a Trauma Centre- Harare
  51. Central 24 Medical Laboratories – Harare
  52. Chams Medical Laboratories – Harare
  53. ClinPath Diagnostic Laboratories – Harare
  54. Gopath Clinical Laboratories – Harare
  55. Diagnostics Laboratory Services – Harare
  56. Sunningdale Medical Laboratories – Harare
  57. Greigestone Diagnostic Laboratories – Harare
  58. Progressive Diagnostic Laboratory – Harare
  59. High Care Laboratory – Harare
  60. Neihmart Medical Laboratories – Harare
  61. Biogene Medical Laboratory – Harare
  62. Pathcare Clinical Laboratories – Harare
  63. Eaden Medical Laboratories – Harare
  64. Chisipite Clinical Laboratories – Harare
  65. Dilon Curis Diagnostic Laboratories – Harare
  66. Urea Breath Centre Laboratory (UBC), 52 J. Chinamano, Harare
  67. United Nations Clinic Laboratory – Harare
  68. Lancet Medical Laboratories – Bulawayo
  69. Southern Pathology – Bulawayo
  70. Cimas Medical Labs- Bulawayo
  71. Procare Medical Laboratories – Bulawayo
  72. Corporate 24 Medical Laboratories – Bulawayo
  73. Kei Medical Laboratories – Bulawayo
  74. Mater Dei Hospital Laboratory (DLS)- Bulawayo
  75. 24 Hours Diagnolab – Bulawayo
  76. Immuno-Genetics Medical Laboratories- Bulawayo
  77. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Chinhoyi
  78. Lancet Medical Laboratories – Chinhoyi
  79. Lancet Medical Laboratories, Gweru
  80. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Gweru
  81. Cimas Medical Labs- Gweru
  82. Idetech Diagnostics Laboratories – Gweru
  83. Unki Mine Laboratory- Gweru
  84. Genau Medical Laboratories – Gweru
  85. Impali Medical Laboratories – Gweru
  86. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Kwekwe
  87. Lancet Medical Laboratories – Kwekwe
  88. Cimas Medical Laboratories – Kwekwe
  89. Cimas Medical Labs – Mutare
  90. Lancet Medical Laboratories- Mutare
  91. PSMI Medical Laboratories –Mutare
  92. Valuemax Clinical Laboratories – Mutare
  93. Lancet Medical Laboratories- Masvingo
  94. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Masvingo
  95. Healthaide Diagnostic Laboratory – Masvingo
  96. Genau Medical Laboratories – Masvingo
  97. Medtrek Clinical Laboratories – Masvingo
  98. Collin Saunders Hospital Laboratory – Triangle, Masvingo
  99. Lancet Medical Laboratories- Bindura
  100. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Bindura
  101. William Medical Laboratory- Bindura
  102. Dilon Curis Diagnostic Laboratories – Bindura
  103. Lancet Medical Laboratories-Victoria Falls
  104. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Victoria Falls
  105. Bioexpress Medical Laboratory- Victoria Falls
  106. Cimas Medical Laboratories – Victoria Falls
  107. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Marondera
  108. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Rusape
  109. Cimas Medical Labs – Makoni- Chitungwiza
  110. South Medical Hospital Laboratories – Chitungwiza
  111. Clinmed Laboratories – Chitungwiza
  112. PSI Medical Laboratories – Chitungwiza
  113. Chitungwiza New Start Center Laboratory – Chitungwiza
  114. Idetech Diagnostics Laboratories – Beitbridge
  115. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Beitbridge
  116. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Chiredzi
  117. Lordsland Medical Laboratory, Zvishavane
  118. Quality Diagnostics Laboratories – Zvishavane
  119. Nectarcare Shabani Mine Hospital Medical Laboratory – Zvishavane
  120. Carelab Medical Laboratories – Hwange
  121. Hwange Colliery Laboratory – Hwange
  122. World Class Medical Laboratory – Filabusi
  123. Gwanda Private Clinical Laboratories – Gwanda
  124. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Kadoma
  125. Van Prat Medical Laboratory- Kadoma
  126. Queen Mary Laboratories- Kadoma
  127. Campion Street Laboratories- Kadoma
  128. Medtrek Clinical Laboratories – Chipinge

  Government Laboratories

   

  1. National Microbiology Reference Laboratory
  2. National TB Reference Laboratory
  3. Plumtree District Hospital
  4. Gwanda Provincial Hospital
  5. Beitbridge District Hospital
  6. St Lukes Mission Hospital
  7. Victoria Falls Hospital
  8. Gutu Mission Hospital
  9. Masvingo Provincial Hospital
  10. Gweru Provincial Hospital
  11. Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital
  12. Kadoma General Hospital
  13. Marondera Provincial Hospital
  14. St Alberts Mission Hospital
  15. Bindura Provincial Hospital
  16. Rusape General Hospital
  17. Mutare Provincial Hospital
  18. Chipinge District Hospital
  19. Sally Mugabe Central Hospital
  20. Parirenyatwa Central Hospital
  21. National Virology Reference Laboratory
  22. Chitungwiza Central Hospital
  23. Chikurubi Maximum Prison
  24. Thorngrove Hospital Laboratory
  25. Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital
  26. Josiah Tongogara Magama Hospital

   

  Research and Non-Governmental Organizations

  1. Population Service International (PSI)
  2. Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI)
  3. African Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Technology (AIBST)

   

  Collection Points Authorized

  1. Lancet Medical Labs – Robert Mugabe International Airport – Harare
  2. Genau Medical Laboratories – Robert Mugabe International Airport – Harare
  3. Pathology Laboratories – Robert Mugabe International Airport – Harare
  4. PSMI Mobile Unit – Harare
  5. Mount Pleasant Drive Thorough Covid-19 Collection Centre – Harare
  6. Milton Park Covid-19 Centre – Harare
  7. Belvedere Medical Centre Clinic – Harare
  8. Samuel Leon Medical Centre – Harare
  9. Klosad Medical Laboratories Collection Centre – Harare
  10. Genopath (Pvt) Ltd – Willovale, Harare
  11. Chisipite Clinical Laboratory – Harare
  12. Advanced Care Support Services- Harare
  13. Ace Air & Ambulance Services (Pvt) Ltd – Harare
  14. Cancer Association of Zimbabwe – Harare
  15. Haematology Centre – Harare
  16. Africa Diagnostic Laboratory – Harare
  17. Baines Pathology @Pearl Avenue- Harare
  18. Highview Medical Centre Covid-19 Collection Site – Harare
  19. Omnipath Medical Laboratory Covid-19 Collection Site- Harare
  20. Avicenna Medical Centre Covid-19 Collection Site- Harare
  21. Genau Medical Laboratories – Chinhoyi
  22. UZ-CTRC – Seke South Municipal Clinic- Chitungwiza
  23. Lancet Medical Labs, Joshua Nkomo Airport – Bulawayo
  24. Lancet Medical Laboratories – Victoria Falls International Airport
• Test results are most commonly returned by text message or email, but some labs will provide a physical copy upon request.
  

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

• Has the government of Zimbabwe approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use?
  • Yes: Sinopharm’s BBIBP-CorV, Sinovac’s CoronaVac, Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN, and the Sputnik V vaccines. Zimbabwe government officials have stated that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is approved, but it is not yet available in Zimbabwe.
• Are vaccines available in Zimbabwe for U.S. citizens to receive?
  • Yes, at a cost.  Only public and private sites participating in the Government of Zimbabwe’s vaccination campaign are able to offer vaccines.
• Which vaccines are available in Zimbabwe?
  • All of the vaccines listed above are available in Zimbabwe. At this time, none of these vaccines have received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and only Sinopharm’s BBIBP-CorV has received World Health Organization (WHO) approval, and Sinovac has received WHO Emergency Use Authorization.
• For additional information:
  • Sites offering vaccines change daily, based on populations being targeted and staffing availability. A list of vaccination sites is not available online, but sites can be found by contacting the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Covid-19 hotline locally by dialing 2019.
  • For local information, please visit the website of Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care for local updates.
• Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States. To learn more about the status of WHO Emergency Use Listing of different COVID-19 vaccines available worldwide, visit the WHO’s COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.
• The U.S. government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas.  Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination
   

Entry and Exit Requirements

• Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
• Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes

• • Starting August 7, 2021, the Government of Zimbabwe requires all new arrivals and departures to and from the country to present a negative COVID-19 test on the Trusted Travel Initiative Platform.
  • The Trusted Travel Initiative is a platform created by the African Union, Africa CDC and other partners to facilitate COVID-19 test authentication. Travelers can learn more about the Trusted Traveler platform at the Africa CDC website.
  • Travelers intending to depart Zimbabwe must use one of the following Trusted Travel accredited laboratories:
    • Matabeleland South
      • Beit bridge district hospital
      • Gwanda provincial hospital
    • Matabeleland North
      • Lupane Hospital
      • Bio express lab Victoria Falls
    • Midlands
      • Gweru provincial Hospital
    • Masvingo
      • Masvingo provincial hospital
      • Collin Saunders memorial hospital
      • Gutu mission hospital
    • Mashonaland west
      • Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital
    • Mashonaland East
      • Marondera Provincial Hospital
    • Mashonaland Central
      • Bindura Provincial hospital
    • Manicaland
      • Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital
    • Harare
      • Bio Express Labs(PVT)
      • CIMAS MEDLABS
      • Lancet Clinical Laboratories
      • National Microbiology Reference Laboratory
      • National TB reference Laboratory
      • Parirenyatwa Central Hospital
      • Sally Mugabe Central Hospital
      • United Nations Clinic
    • Bulawayo
      • United Bulawayo hospital laboratory
      • Mpilo hospital laboratory
    • Chitungwiza
      • Chitungwiza Central Hospital

• If the traveler uses an authorized Trusted Traveler laboratory in the country of departure for their COVID-19 PCR test, they will get a Trusted Travel code from the laboratory where the test was performed. You must create an account at panabios.org. This is where your results will be uploaded.
• If the traveler is entering from a country that is not part of the Trusted Travel Initiative, the traveler will upload their negative COVID-19 test result to org(account creation required).  A Travel Code will then be generated for travel.  Technical concerns may be directed to the dedicated support teams reachable via globalhaven@panabios.org.

• • Persons without a test result or displaying COVID-19 symptoms may be denied entry or detained until they can be tested for COVID-19.
  • If tested and found to be positive, travelers may be detained a government facility for 14 days.
  • Use of the Trusted Traveler Platform of approved labs is required for departure from Zimbabwe, even if your destination is not part of the platform. The Trusted Travel system will verify your results against the entry requirements for your destination.

• An update to the government regulations to contain the spread of COVID-19, effective June 29, 2021, states that travelers arriving to Zimbabwe from countries where the Alpha and Delta variants of COVID-19 are prevalent or on the increase, or those who transited such countries en route to Zimbabwe, will be quarantined at government appointed facilities at the traveler’s expense, regardless of the result of the COVID-19 test obtained prior to travel.

• These travelers will be tested for COVID-19 within the first 48 hours of arrival, and on the third, fifth, and tenth days of quarantine, at the traveler’s expense.  If found to be positive, they will be taken to a government isolation center.

• To date, the Government of Zimbabwe has not defined which countries it identifies as countries with these variants.

• Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
• U.S. citizens can obtain information about renewing or extending visas at the Department of Immigration Control website.
• Also see “Quarantine Information” below.

Movement Restrictions

• Is a curfew in place? Yes
• Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? Yes
• Currently a curfew is in effect from 6:30PM to 6:00 a.m.  International air travel is subject to testing requirements as outlined below.

Quarantine Information

• Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No
• More information about Government of Zimbabwe COVID-related policies is available here.

Transportation Options

• Are commercial flights operating? Yes
• Is public transportation operating? Yes. Inter-city travel is prohibited as described above.

Fines for Non-Compliance

• Individuals found violating curfew may be subject to fines and/or arrest.
• The law states that travelers who present fake COVID-19 certificates will be arrested and prosecuted.
• A June 14, 2021 update to the government’s measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 states that there will be stricter enforcement of regulations described on this page.

Consular Operations

• The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe is offering routine American Citizen services. To schedule an appointment for a passport service for U.S. Citizens, please use this online reservation system.
  To reserve an appointment for notarial services, please follow this link.
  If you are unable to find an appointment and your situation is an emergency, including emergency passport services, or for other inquiries, including Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, please email consularharare@state.gov or call the U.S. Embassy at 0867 701 1000.
• The Consular Section is providing limited visa services at this time.  More information is available here.

Local Resources:

• Other links:
  • COVID-19 Traveler Information page on travel.state.gov
  • CDC page on COVID-19
  • state.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page

By U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe | 4 December, 2021 | Topics: Alert, Consular Affairs, Emergency Services, Messages for U.S. Citizens, News, U.S. & Zimbabwe