Zimbabwe imposes extended lockdowns amid virus spike

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Zimbabwe on Tuesday tightened nationwide COVID-19 lockdown measures, including a ban on intercity movement.

"Intercity movements are prohibited except for the production and distribution of food and medicines," President Emerson Mnangagwa announced in the capital Harare following a surge in both COVID-19 positive cases and deaths.

"Level 4 lockdown measures which take immediate effect will run for a duration of two weeks and will be reviewed thereafter," he added.

Local restrictions had been in place in the country for a few weeks, prompted by the arrival of the Delta variant first detected in India that increased local transmissions.

Travelers from countries with the Alpha variant, detected first in southeast Britain, and the Delta variant will be quarantined and tested on first, third, fifth and 10th day at their own expense, said Mnangagwa.

Among the new measures are a nighttime curfew between 6.30 p.m. and 6 a.m. and reduced working hours from 8.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., with workplaces to vacate 40% of capacity.