HARARE – Zimbabwe on Tuesday extended its Covid-19 lockdown by a further two weeks, but licenced bars and nightclubs will be allowed to re-open to fully vaccinated patrons.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists following a Cabinet meeting in Harare that the country has seen a sharp decline in infections, with the recovery rate now at 94 percent.
“In view of sprouting illegal drinking outlets, Cabinet directed that all licenced bars be opened to fully vaccinated clients. Bar owners are also required to ensure that the World Health Organisation and national protocols and guidelines are enforced, failure of which their licences will be withdrawn. The bars are also required to adhere to curfew hours,” Mutsvangwa said.
Zimbabwe’s curfew hours are between 10PM and 5.30AM.
She said the arrival last week of 943,200 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine procured under the United Nations’ COVAX facility had pushed the number of doses received to date to 13,243,200.
On Monday, the ministry of health said 3,117,895 people had taken the first dose of a vaccine, while 2,322,862 people are now fully vaccinated.
The vaccination programme has slowed, however, with just 6,101 taking the first dose on Monday and 10,525 their second.
The government has set an ambitious target of vaccinating 60 percent of the country’s population by Christmas, but only 15 percent of the country’s 15 million people have been vaccinated so far.
