BREAKING: Zimbabwe Government announces stiff lockdown

The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Constantino Chiwenga has announced stiff lockdown measures for the country, with immediate effect.

Chiwenga who is also Vice President, told a media briefing this evening that the move has been necessitated by the upsurge of coronavirus cases in the country.

Below are the highlights from his press statement on the lockdown:

• Stiff lockdown with immediate effect

• Only essential services to remain open

• Gatherings of not more than 30 people at funerals

• Weddings, funerals, gyms, restaurants, bars etc banned for 30 days

• Correct wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitization and temp checks to be strictly enforced

• Other commercial services mining, manufacturing and agriculture to operate as before

• Open from 8am and close at 3pm

• People must stay at home save for buying food or medicines etc

• Curfew 6pm to 6am

• Air transport to continue as before

• Formal business and registered informal traders suspended for 30 days

• Only exam classes are to open now

• facilities and national parks to operate subject to usual health conditions

• Cross border traders banned save for commercial and transit cargo for essential and critical services

• Restaurants and bars closed for 30 days