Mnangagwa’s full statement on lockdown extension

Noticing that there is now a gradual increase of infections, the lockdown will continue for the next 14 days, however relaxed to Level 2. This entails the following adjustments:

1. All people must wear masks of any type, including home-made ones, outside their homes.
2. The re-opening of industry and commence, provided that companies must ensure mandatory Rapid Diagnostic Testing of all employees, social distancing in the workplace, sanitisation and that all employees wear masks.
3. Operating hours shall be from 8:00am to 3:00pm.
4. For the avoidance of doubt the informal sector remains closed, except the agriculture and food supply chains (markets). All those who are vulnerable should approach the Department of Social Welfare to register for assistance.
5. Public buses only, will be the mode of public transport. Omnibuses (kombis) and smaller taxis are still not permitted to operate. Bus operators must ensure that their buses are disinfected twice daily, and that commuters wear masks, have their temperatures checked and hands sanitised before boarding buses. Social distancing must also be maintained within all buses.
6. Industry, commerce and bus operators can only re-open and operate upon fulfilling the outlined requirements. Health inspection teams will immediately randomly check for compliance. Those who fail to comply will be stopped from operating.
7. The maintenance of mandatory and quarantine protocols in line with regional and international standards will continue. Returning residents and international travellers to the country will be put on a 21-day mandatory quarantine with full testing on Day 1, Day 8 and Day 21.
8. Churches, gyms, bottle stores, bars, beerhalls and other leisure and recreational facilities remain closed.
9. Gatherings of less than 50 people are to be maintained.

This partial relaxing to Level 2 is designed to restart certain sectors of the economy, while recognising the compelling credence in maintaining the lockdown.

Overall, we must remain cautious for as long as the infection curve has not converged with our health delivery readiness curve. To this end, new laboratories have been identified to increase and decentralise testing.  We envisage that this will further increase the numbers of people tested so as to inform transmission patterns and response strategies.

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