By 
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday extended the current national lockdown by a further two weeks despite a decline in COVID-19 cases.
By Tongai Mwenje
Although the country experienced a high mortality rate in the past weeks, there has been a decline in the number of COVID-19 positive cases.
To date, Zimbabwe has recorded a cumulative figure of 35,222 including 1,410 deaths and 30,759 recoveries.
Before announcing the two week lockdown extension, the average daily infection rate had significantly fallen down.
He said there is need to remain vigilant because every life lost matters.
The President, however, extended the national lockdown by a further two weeks with some relaxations on the current regulations.
“While the national lockdown goals are now within sight, the numbers of active cases and deaths however are still very high. These need to come down further.
“Every life lost is a big loss to us, I therefore, extend the national lockdown by further two weeks. The extension will allow the number of active cases and those still in incubation to recede. This extension should cause a great reduction in the pool of infected people, enable health personnel time to investigate and, monitor the presence and circulation of new variants,” said the President.
While schools and social gatherings remain closed, curfew and business times have been slightly adjusted.
New curfew hours now run between 8pm – 5:30am while operating hours for businesses have been extended to 5pm from the initial 3pm.
Staffing levels in Government increased from 10 percent to 25 percent, while those in the informal sector may only open once they have satisfied WHO protocols, that include testing, washing hands and social distancing.
Gatherings for people at funerals remain pegged at 30 people with other social gatherings remaining banned. Non-essential workers and shops will remain closed for the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, earlier today, the country received 200 000 COVID-19 Vaccine doses from China.
An additional 600,000 doses secured through direct purchase by Zimbabwe will also arrive in Harare next month, the president promised.
“As I address you, our nation this morning received its first consignment of vaccines from the People’s Republic of China. Let me again thank the Chinese government for this gesture of great humanity. We will forever remain grateful to the Chinese government and people for standing with us.
“I am also happy that the second consignment of vaccines procured from the People’s Republic of China will be received in a few weeks. As already indicated vaccines from other countries namely Russia, India and the United Kingdom, are also on the way. That should see our pace of vaccinating thus drawing us nearer the goal of achieving herd immunity.
“The ultimate goal is return to our normal lives so our children can go back to school and that we all resume our collective efforts towards recovery and growing our economy for the realisation of vision 2030. Therefore, the vaccines rollout programme will be announced by the Minister of Health and Child Care Let me take this opportunity to remind you to remain vigilant, focused and continue to adhere to all the lockdown measures. The health of our nation depends on us all,” he said.
Comments