President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced new Covid-19 measures following the new variant Omicron detection by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The new measures are with immediate effect and will be reviewed after 14 days.
In his announcement, President Mnangagwa declared that all returning residents and visitors have to undergo PCR tests and will be quarantined at their own cost for a period of days recommended by WHO.
The curfew will be running from 9 pm to 6 pm will be enforced to “limit movement and hence transmission,” with essential services announced in previous Government gazettes being exempted.
All shops shall operate for 12 hours between 7 am and 7 pm while those attending gatherings must adhere to WHO protocols.
He also announced that all funerals will be monitored by health personnel while no liquor will be consumed at bottle stores.
Only vaccinated patrons will be allowed in bars and nightclubs.
“Worldwide, the pandemic shows little signs of abetting, with latest global trends and figures pointing to yet another Wave the Fourth Wave in our case. By yesterday, Monday, over 260 million cumulative cases of infections had been reported worldwide. Grimly, over 5 million souls have perished globally since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2019.
“As of yesterday, our Nation, Zimbabwe, had recorded a cumulative total of 133 991 cases of infection, and some 4 705 cumulative deaths since the onset of the pandemic in our country in early 2020. Our Nation has done a lot to contain the pandemic, aided and guided by the World Health Organisation, WHO, whose guidelines we continue to follow.
“We have recorded notable successes, certainly fared better than most in our region, on our African continent, and in the world. Today we are counted among leaders when it comes to best preventive and curative practices.
“Let me pay tribute to you all, my fellow Zimbabweans, for heeding all the measures we have announced and adopted for our survival as a Nation. This has reduced the toll which the pandemic has levied on our Nation.” He said.
