Photo Credit: Reuters.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended a coronavirus lockdown by two more weeks to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Zimbabwe has been on lockdown for five weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, shutting an economy struggling with shortages of foreign currency, food, electricity and hospitals short on medicines.

Mnangagwa said his government’s priority "remains to reduce infections and gradually restart the economy and the use of public taxis remain suspended, while schools will remain closed."

Four Zimbabweans had died as of Friday from 40 reported infections. Five people, including four from a Ruwa family, had made a recovery.

He said Zimbabwe was now on Level 2 of the lockdown, having started on Level 4 on March 30 which was lowered to Level 3 with the announcement that mines would be allowed to re-open from April 19.

Detailing conditions under the new partial lockdown, Mnangagwa said:

♦ Noticing that there is now a gradual increase of infections, the lockdown will continue for the next 14 days, however relaxed to Level 2. This entails the following adjustments:

♦ All people must wear masks of any type including home made ones outside their homes.

♦ The re-opening of industry and commerce provided that companies must ensure mandatory rapid diagnostic testing of all employees, social distancing in the workplace, sanitisation and that all employees wear masks.

♦ Operating hours shall be from 8AM to 3PM.

♦ For the avoidance of doubt, the informal sector remains closed except the agriculture and food supply chains.

♦ All those who are vulnerable should approach the department of social welfare to register for assistance.

♦ Churches, gyms, bottle stores, bars, beer halls and other leisure and recreational facilities remain closed.

He said Zimbabwe had been “exposed to the shocks of disruptions in the external supply chain” after neighbours South Africa and Botswana, the country’s two biggest trade partners in the region, also imposed their own lockdowns and closed their borders, although cargo is still allowed through.

Source: News Agencies.