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Travel Advisory Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Travel Advisory Level 2: Exercise increased caution in Zimbabwe due to crime.            Read More...
COVID-19 Information
By
38 MINUTE READ
April 12, 2022

Last updated:   [04/12/2022]

Actions to Take:

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.

Foreign nationals traveling to the United States are also required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19, with very limited exceptions.

  • 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. Sinovac for a traveler under 18 also does not meet this requirement since this age group has not received WHO Emergency Use Authorization.
  • All travelers are required to show documentation of a pre-departure negative viral test from a sample taken within one day of travel to the United States before boarding. That includes all travelers – U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals.

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 247,010 confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 5,460 deaths as of April 11, 2022.
  • 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.
  • Every person arriving in Zimbabwe will be asked to show valid proof of full vaccination against Covid-19. Those who cannot show proof of being fully vaccinated must show a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of their departure to Zimbabwe. Those with proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 do not need proof of a negative PCR test to enter Zimbabwe. All departing travelers must show a negative PCR test to leave Zimbabwe regardless of the requirements of their destination.
  • Quarantine after international travel to Zimbabwe is not required for those who are fully vaccinated.
  • A curfew is in place from midnight to 5:30AM.
  • Restaurants, bars, and night clubs may operate from 8AM to 10PM and offer sit-in service to vaccinated customers only.

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. Genau Medical Laboratories – Harare
    19. Pathology Medical Laboratory-Harare
    20. Upper East medical Centre, Avondale – Harare
    21. Biotech Institute, Avondale West -Harare
    22. Humacare Medical Laboratory, Longcheng -Harare
    23. Interpath Medical Laboratory -Harare
    24. Mbuya Dorcas Medical Laboratory – Harare
    25. Urea Breath Centre – Harare
    1. Baines Pathology Laboratory – Harare
    2. Dynacare Medical Laboratories – Harare
    3. Corporate 24 Medical Laboratories – Harare
    4. Genomix Medical Centre Laboratory – Harare
    5. Genopath (Pvt) Ltd – Harare
    6. Omnipath Medical Laboratories – Harare
    7. Belvedere Medical Centre – Laboratory – Harare
    8. Suburban Medical Centre Warren Park – Harare
    9. Suburban Medical Centre Westwood – Harare
    10. Rapha Medical Laboratories – Harare
    11. Premium Diagnostic Centre- Harare
    12. Ace Air & Ambulance Services (Pvt) Ltd – Harare
    13. Immunopath Diagnostic Laboratory Services – Harare
    14. Zenezek Medical Laboratories –Harare
    15. Precision Medical Laboratories -Harare
    16. Lordsland Medical Laboratory – Harare
    17. Mars Clinical Laboratories – Harare
    18. Five Avenue Medical Centre – Harare
    19. Real Medical Laboratories – Harare
    20. UZ-CTRC Family Health Centre Dept – Harare
    21. UZ-CTRC – Obs & Gynae Dept – Harare
    22. Gamma Allergy & Immunology Lab- Harare
    23. Newlands Clinic- Harare
    24. Vislink Investments t/a Trauma Centre- Harare
    25. Central 24 Medical Laboratories – Harare
    26. Chams Medical Laboratories – Harare
    27. ClinPath Diagnostic Laboratories – Harare
    28. Gopath Clinical Laboratories – Harare
    29. Diagnostics Laboratory Services – Harare
    30. Sunningdale Medical Laboratories – Harare
    31. Greigestone Diagnostic Laboratories – Harare
    32. Progressive Diagnostic Laboratory – Harare
    33. High Care Laboratory – Harare
    34. Neihmart Medical Laboratories – Harare
    35. Biogene Medical Laboratory – Harare
    36. Pathcare Clinical Laboratories – Harare
    37. Eaden Medical Laboratories – Harare
    38. Chisipite Clinical Laboratories – Harare
    39. Dilon Curis Diagnostic Laboratories – Harare
    40. Urea Breath Centre Laboratory (UBC), 52 J. Chinamano, Harare
    41. United Nations Clinic Laboratory – Harare
    42. Lancet Medical Laboratories – Bulawayo
    43. Southern Pathology – Bulawayo
    44. Cimas Medical Labs- Bulawayo
    45. Procare Medical Laboratories – Bulawayo
    46. Corporate 24 Medical Laboratories – Bulawayo
    47. Kei Medical Laboratories – Bulawayo
    48. Mater Dei Hospital Laboratory (DLS)- Bulawayo
    49. 24 Hours Diagnolab – Bulawayo
    50. Immuno-Genetics Medical Laboratories- Bulawayo
    51. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Chinhoyi
    52. Lancet Medical Laboratories – Chinhoyi
    1. Lancet Medical Laboratories, Gweru
    2. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Gweru
    3. Cimas Medical Labs- Gweru
    4. Idetech Diagnostics Laboratories – Gweru
    5. Unki Mine Laboratory- Gweru
    6. Genau Medical Laboratories – Gweru
    7. Impali Medical Laboratories – Gweru
    8. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Kwekwe
    9. Lancet Medical Laboratories – Kwekwe
    10. Cimas Medical Laboratories – Kwekwe
    11. Cimas Medical Labs – Mutare
    12. Lancet Medical Laboratories- Mutare
    13. PSMI Medical Laboratories –Mutare
    14. Valuemax Clinical Laboratories – Mutare
    15. Lancet Medical Laboratories- Masvingo
    16. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Masvingo
    17. Healthaide Diagnostic Laboratory – Masvingo
    18. Genau Medical Laboratories – Masvingo
    19. Medtrek Clinical Laboratories – Masvingo
    20. Collin Saunders Hospital Laboratory – Triangle, Masvingo
    21. Lancet Medical Laboratories- Bindura
    22. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Bindura
    23. William Medical Laboratory- Bindura
    24. Dilon Curis Diagnostic Laboratories – Bindura
    25. Lancet Medical Laboratories-Victoria Falls
    26. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Victoria Falls
    27. Cimas Medical Laboratories – Victoria Falls
    28. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Marondera
    29. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Rusape
    30. Cimas Medical Labs – Makoni- Chitungwiza
    31. South Medical Hospital Laboratories – Chitungwiza
    32. Clinmed Laboratories – Chitungwiza
    33. PSI Medical Laboratories – Chitungwiza
    34. Chitungwiza New Start Center Laboratory – Chitungwiza
    35. Idetech Diagnostics Laboratories – Beitbridge
    36. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Beitbridge
    37. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Chiredzi
    38. Lordsland Medical Laboratory, Zvishavane
    39. Quality Diagnostics Laboratories – Zvishavane
    40. Nectarcare Shabani Mine Hospital Medical Laboratory – Zvishavane
    41. Carelab Medical Laboratories – Hwange
    42. Hwange Colliery Laboratory – Hwange
    43. World Class Medical Laboratory – Filabusi
    44. Gwanda Private Clinical Laboratories – Gwanda
    45. PSMI Medical Laboratories – Kadoma
    46. Van Prat Medical Laboratory- Kadoma
    47. Queen Mary Laboratories- Kadoma
    48. Campion Street Laboratories- Kadoma
    49. 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
    1. Cancer Association of Zimbabwe – Harare
    2. Haematology Centre – Harare
    3. Africa Diagnostic Laboratory – Harare
    4. Baines Pathology @Pearl Avenue- Harare
    5. Highview Medical Centre Covid-19 Collection Site – Harare
    6. Omnipath Medical Laboratory Covid-19 Collection Site- Harare
    7. Avicenna Medical Centre Covid-19 Collection Site- Harare
    8. Genau Medical Laboratories – Chinhoyi
    9. UZ-CTRC – Seke South Municipal Clinic- Chitungwiza
    10. Lancet Medical Labs, Joshua Nkomo Airport – Bulawayo
    11. 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 for those 18 and over 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 globalhaven.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.
  • 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? No
  • Currently a curfew is in effect from midnight to 5:30AM.
  • International air travel is subject to testing requirements as outlined above.

Quarantine Information

  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Quarantine after international travel is not required for those who are fully vaccinated.
  • More information about Government of Zimbabwe COVID-related policies is available here.

Transportation Options

  • Are commercial flights operating? Yes
  • Is public transportation operating? Yes.

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:

Alerts, News