Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe recorded 1 365 new Covid-19 cases and 34 deaths on Tuesday, the highest single-day surge since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year.

The new record came as the country entered its first day of a 30-day Level 4 lock down, imposed by government on Sunday, limiting citizens movement to curtail a rapid spread of the second wave of the coronavirus.

Only on Monday, the country had set a new record in new Covid-19 cases in a single day, after recording 774 cases.

Of the new cases recorded on Wednesday, Harare- the capital, cemented its position as a hotspot for the virus, accounting for 777 of the 1 365 new cases.

“As of January 5, 2020, Zimbabwe has now recorded 17 194 cases, 11 813 recoveries and 418 deaths,” the Ministry of Health and Child Care said.

Government imposed stiffer lockdown measures effective January 5 after a spiral in new cases that was largely blamed on a populace that had let the guard down following a slowdown in infections after the first wave.

While Covid-19 regulations such as compulsory wearing of masks in public and social distancing had remained in place, it was observed that people were no longer strictly adhering to the rules.

Government has since pushed security agencies to enforce stricter adherence to the preventative measures.

A new variant of the virus, said to be more contagious, has also been detected in neighbouring South Africa which is also recording record highs of new infections, but is yet to be confirmed in Zimbabwe.
New Ziana