The government is mulling stiffer penalties for people who venture outside their homes without wearing masks.
Currently, those who are arrested for violating lockdown regulations such as moving “aimlessly” or failure to wear masks are fined between ZWL$200 to ZWL$500.
Addressing the media during Tuesday’s post-cabinet briefing, Information Media, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the stiffer penalties are among preventative and control measures against COVID-19. She said:
Preventative and control measures against Covid-19 will be intensified in order to avoid overwhelming the health delivery system through the mandatory and correct donning of masks. The government will be seeking to impose stiffer penalties for the non-wearing of masks.
Zimbabwe had, as of 20 July 2020, conducted 103 291 cumulative rapid screening and PCR tests (61 351 RDT and 41 940 PCR) inclusive of tests done at private laboratories.
The cumulative number of confirmed cases has risen by 65.6 per cent in the past week from 1 034 to 1 713, while the cumulative number of confirmed local cases has risen by 204.9 per cent from 286 to 872.
Most of the local cases are in Bulawayo (490) and Harare (212).