{"id":10473,"date":"2021-12-10T15:29:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T15:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/?p=10473"},"modified":"2021-12-10T15:13:21","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T15:13:21","slug":"omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg","title":{"rendered":"Omicron stalks SA neighbours, Mozambique included, as migrant workers return \u2013 Bloomberg"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Mozambique. <\/strong><\/span>South Africa\u2019s neighbours are bracing for a flood of returning workers over the December holidays, threatening to accelerate the spread of the omicron variant that\u2019s already ignited a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections in the region.<\/p>\n

While many countries banned travelers from southern Africa after the new strain was first identified there two weeks ago, its governments have denounced the restrictions and have largely kept borders open. Lines of vehicles can stretch for several miles as workers at South African mines and construction sites journey home, adding to the already heavy stream of travelers.<\/p>\n

Zimbabwe reported a record number of new coronavirus cases this week, with more than one in three people being tested showing positive results. And that\u2019s before the end-of-year rush, which usually starts in the second half of December.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course yes,\u201d John Nkengasong, director at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters Thursday when asked if he was worried about the risk from the migration. \u201cWe will definitely see an increased number of cases around the January-February timeline across the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The United Nations estimates South Africa hosts about 2.9 million workers from other countries in the region, with the bulk coming from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.<\/p>\n

Long lines<\/b><\/p>\n

Already infections are spiking. The weekly incidence of cases climbed 1 361% in Zimbabwe in the week through December 5, according to the World Health Organization. Mozambique has seen a 1 207% jump and Lesotho a 219% rise in weekly cases. While there hasn\u2019t been much sequencing, the swell is expected to be because of omicron, the WHO said in a Dec. 7 report.<\/p>\n

As many as 35 000 people travel daily through the South Africa-Zimbabwe Beitbridge border post during the holiday season. Lines of vehicles waiting to cross can extend for more than 6 miles.<\/p>\n

More than 50 000 people entered into Mozambique at its Ressano Garcia border with South Africa in the 10 days before December 25 last year, its busiest period. Lines of returning mineworkers and vacationers there can stretch for more than 12 miles, and truck drivers spend three days waiting to cross.<\/p>\n

Covid-19 cases in both Mozambique and Zimbabwe surged in the weeks following last December\u2019s holidays. By mid-January, private hospitals in Mozambique had no available beds.<\/p>\n

Still, indications that the new strain may bring milder illness could reduce the pressure, although it\u2019s too soon to tell.<\/p>\n

The Mozambican government is also concerned about community transmission as citizens move between cities and rural areas during the festive period, Eduardo Samo Gudo, deputy director of the National Institute of Health, said by phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people relax prevention measures, the health system won\u2019t hold up,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are doing everything we can to delay the fourth wave, but unfortunately omicron may diminish our efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Low vaccination rates add to the spread. Zimbabwe has fully inoculated about 20% of its people; in Mozambique the figure is less than 15%.<\/p>\n

Both countries are enforcing mandatory testing for all arrivals at their borders, which will add to the delays and crowding. Zimbabwe requires a 10-day quarantine.<\/p>\n

By<\/b><\/p>\n

Matthew Hill<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Mozambique<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Mozambique. South Africa\u2019s neighbours are bracing for a flood of returning workers over the December holidays, threatening to accelerate the spread of the omicron variant that\u2019s already ignited a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections in the region. While many countries banned travelers from southern Africa after the new strain was first identified there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":10472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6,8,16],"tags":[233,281,283],"class_list":["post-10473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-files","category-homepage-english","category-twitter","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-mozambique","tag-mozambique"],"yoast_head":"\nOmicron stalks SA neighbours, Mozambique included, as migrant workers return \u2013 Bloomberg - Mozambique<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"South Africa\u2019s neighbours are bracing for a flood of returning workers over the December holidays, threatening to accele ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Omicron stalks SA neighbours, Mozambique included, as migrant workers return \u2013 Bloomberg\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"South Africa\u2019s neighbours are bracing for a flood of returning workers over the December holidays, threatening to accele ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mozambique\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-12-10T15:29:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/sites\/64\/2021\/12\/img-61b36e7b2c16a.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"744\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"496\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Omicron stalks SA neighbours, Mozambique included, as migrant workers return \u2013 Bloomberg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-12-10T15:29:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg\"},\"wordCount\":528,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/sites\/64\/2021\/12\/img-61b36e7b2c16a.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Africa Press\",\"Africa Press-Mozambique\",\"Mozambique\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"files\",\"homepage-english\",\"twitter\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/omicron-stalks-sa-neighbours-mozambique-included-as-migrant-workers-return-bloomberg\",\"name\":\"Omicron stalks SA neighbours, Mozambique included, as migrant workers return \u2013 Bloomberg - 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