Level 4 lockdown to stay

Harare(New Ziana)- The country will continue being under the COVID-19 level 4 lockdown regulations to enable authorities to strengthen efforts to contain the third wave of the pandemic, a Cabinet Minister said on Tuesday.

Under the level 4 lockdown, intercity travel is banned, businesses open from 0800 to 1530, schools , bars , gymnasiums and churches are closed.

Authorities imposed a nationwide lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic,and embarked on mass vaccinations with President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying at least 1 million Zimbabweans should be inoculated during that period.

In a post Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said there were no changes to the existing lockdown measures.

This is despite the decrease in the number of new COVID-19 infections over the past week.

“Cabinet was informed that the number of infections decreased slightly, with a total of 14 275 cases being recorded during the week under review, compared to the 21 346 cases recorded the previous week.  

“This reflected a 49.5 percent decrease, as the country’s efforts to contain the pandemic showed a high level of effectiveness.

“ Nevertheless, Cabinet noted the need to strengthen efforts to contain the Third Wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, therefore, the Level 4 lockdown measures remain in force,” she said.

She added: “The lockdown measures are being enforced throughout the country in order to curtail a surge under the Third Wave of COVID-19.”

Mutsvangwa said areas which recorded the most significant numbers of new cases were Harare Metropolitan Province (2 920), Mashonaland East Province (1 968), Mashonaland West Province (1 776), Manicaland Province (1 537) and Mashonaland Central Province (1 106).  

As of 26 July 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 99 944, with 67 827 recoveries and 3 173 deaths.  

The country’s recovery rate stood at 67 percent with 98 percent of cases being attributed to local transmission.

Mutsvangwa said Cabinet acceded to a request by the tourism industry to open the Victoria Falls and Kazungula Border Posts to tourists who are fully vaccinated.  

“This is in view of the realization that over 60 percent of the population in Victoria Falls has been vaccinated,” she said.

New Ziana