Zimbabwe to review lockdown measures next week

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangwaga today said the current lockdown measures will be reviewed next week to give a new direction on how the nation proceeds after recording the most Cvoid-19 fatalities last month.

The government on January 5 this year, introduced a strict 30-day Level 4 lockdown, which was extended by a further two weeks, to end on Monday, 15 February.

The extension came as the nation experienced the peak of the second wave of the disease, in which 19 464 new infections and 865 lives were lost in January alone.

“In the coming week, I will be announcing how we are proceeding with regards the lockdown,” Mnangagwa told the first 2021 executive session of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad)  at State House.

“This will be informed by scientific data and recommendations from our health experts,”

The POLAD meeting was being held virtually.

Mnangagwa said the number of new infections and deaths had in the past two weeks been receding.

He said the pandemic had also cost the government which had to date lost five Ministers and other senior officials.

The country has to date recorded 34 949 infections and 1 382 deaths, while the national recovery rate stands 84.8 percent.

Mnangagwa said the country would be taking delivery of its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines from China next week, while more funds had been set aside for the procurement of more.

“In spite of this development, we should never drop our guard. The December 2020 to mid-January 2021 infections spikes taught us that we must remain vigilant and alert for our own safety and that of others,” he said.

Frontline workers, the elderly and those with underlying conditions are among the first grouping set to be inoculated when the country receives the vaccines.- New Ziana

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