Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has extended the lockdown by a further two weeks and reviewed the curfew to run from 8PM to 6AM, with businesses now allowed to operate up to 5PM.

The announcement follows the expiry of lockdown regulations today.

Under the lockdown regulations, public gatherings and inter-city travel remain banned while gatherings at funerals are still restricted to 30 people. Government office capacity has been increased from 10 percent to 25 percent.

Addressing the nation today, President Mnangagwa said the extension was necessitated by the need to enable the country to reduce the number of active cases.

“Since the implementation of the current lockdown which ends midnight today, we have witnessed a marked decrease in the number of Covid-19 infections and deaths. I thank you all for observing fundamental lockdown measures,” he said.

“Every life lost, is a big loss to us. I therefore extend the national lockdown by two weeks. This will see the reduction of active cases and monitoring of cases in incubation. The new measures will operate as follows; businesses should operate from 8AM to 5PM, no intercity and interprovincial travel and funeral gatherings remain pegged at 30.”

The President also thanked China for donating 200 000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, which arrived in the country this morning.

“I received the first vaccine consignment from China. Let me again thank the Chinese government for this gesture of great humanity. I am happy that the second consignment of vaccines procured from China will be received in a few weeks’ time, vaccines from Russia, India and the UK are also on the way,” he said.