30-day lockdown for Zimbabwe following spike in coronavirus cases

Following a spike in coronavirus cases, Zimbabwe has reintroduced a 12-hour curfew from 6 pm until 6 am.

The new curfew was announced on Saturday by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

“We have seen a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths, almost double in two months, from 8,374 on 1 November to 14,084 to date. In light of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect,” he said.

Aside from the dawn-to-dusk curfew, other measures have been reintroduced.

Only essential businesses can remain open and all gatherings such as wedding ceremonies or religious services are banned, with the exception of funerals, which are limited to 30 people.

The measures could worsen the already troubled Zimbabwean economy.

However, Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga justifies this decision by an increase in coronavirus contaminations which is said to have almost doubled since November — rising from 8,374 cases to more than 14,000.

Since the onset of the COVID-19pandemic, the country has recorded 369 deaths linked to coronavirus.