Govt extends business hours

Harare (New Ziana) -The government on Monday reviewed business operating hours in view of easing Covid-19 infections in the country.

With effect from Tuesday, businesses would be allowed to operate up to 18.30 hours up from 16.30 hours.

Business operating hours had been limited as part of national efforts to control the spread of Covid-19.

Speaking after an inter-ministerial Covid-19 taskforce meeting, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said the move was part of reopening of the economy.

“As part of gradually opening the economy, government has extended operating hours for the retail, wholesale and service businesses which were starting at 8 am to 4:30 pm will now be starting at 06:30 and ending on 18:30,” she said.

Mutsvangwa said as the country continued to ease lockdown restrictions, there was need to keep preventive measures intact.

“We need to bear in mind that we are not over the hill yet. We have so far lost 222 of our fellow Zimbabweans to COVID19 as of the 11th of September 2020. The most affected provinces are the Metropolitan provinces of Harare and Bulawayo,” she said.

She said it was however encouraging that the majority of COVID-19 positive cases reported in Zimbabwe had been mild and as such, had not required hospitalization.

“As at 11 September 2020, a total of 148 cases were admitted to treatment facilities, while the rest of the confirmed cases were isolating at home,” she said.

The Taskforce also received an update on the implementation of the recent Cabinet directive which approved relaxations for the tourism and hospitality industry, and the aviation sector.

“Work is advanced in the preparations for the re-opening of the Victoria Falls International Airport. This includes the assessment and staff training. The readiness of other ports of entry is under assessment and the nation will be advised,” said Mutsvangwa.

She urged all stakeholders to take requisite steps to prevent further spreading of Covid-19 as the economy opened.

“My fellow Zimbabweans, as we gradually open the economy, we need to remember that we are doing this, while taking all necessary precautions to fight the invisible enemy, COVID19. The easing of lockdown restrictions is not an indication that we have defeated this pandemic, but we are a nation seeking to balance between our economic interests and the protection of life,” she said.

Zimbabwe has to date recorded 7 531 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

New Ziana