Zimbabwe: Authorities reduce COVID-19 curfew hours August 18 /update 13

Event

The Zimbabwean government announced on Tuesday, August 18, that the country's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) curfew has been shortened to 20:00 to 06:00 (local time). The curfew, originally brought in in July amid increasing COVID-19 cases, had previously come into effect from 18:00 daily, but numerous groups had complained that the timing left commuters potentially stranded. The two-hour reduction in the curfew also allowed the government to extend the business hours in the country by 90 minutes until 16:30.

Other COVID-19 measures remain in place in Zimbabwe, including restrictions on inter-regional travel, a ban on public gatherings and events, and the compulsory use of face masks in public places.

As of Wednesday, August 19, there have been 5378 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 141 associated deaths in Zimbabwe. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed. Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.