Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday urged greater caution among citizens during the forthcoming Easter holidays to prevent a possible Covid-19 third wave.

Zimbabwe, like the rest of the Christian world, celebrates this year’s Easter holidays from April 2 to 5.

And during such holidays, it is customary for families and churches to come together in celebration.

But President Mnangagwa cautioned, saying the risk of coronavirus transmission during such festivities was high.

“To safeguard our nation, we need to take some additional measures to avoid a third wave of the pandemic which is already attacking some nations of the world,” he said.

President Mnangagwa announced travel restrictions for both school children who are in boarding school from going home, while parents will also not be allowed to visit.

He said social gatherings will remain limited to 50 while bars and nightclubs remain closed.

“The general public is encouraged to defer unnecessary travel outside localities of residence,” he said.

President Mnangagwa encouraged more people to get vaccinated during the period as the country had received more than a million more doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

Since last March, nearly 37 000 people have been infected in Zimbabwe while 1 520 have succumbed to the pandemic.
As at 29 March, nearly 70 000 people had received their first dose of the vaccines.

President Mnangagwa said tourists who come into the country without valid Covid-19 PCR test results will be required to quarantine in hotels for at least 10 days at their own cost, while those who volunteer to be vaccinated will also do so at their own cost.
New Ziana