BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Zimbabwe has suspended the mandatory wearing of face masks in open public spaces as the country continues to relax tough measures to control the spread of Covid-19.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists in Harare on Tuesday that the exemption will only benefited those that are fully vaccinated against the disease.
Mutsvangwa said face masks were still required for everybody during indoor public events such as concerts.
“Noting the significant decrease in Covid-19 cases, Cabinet resolved as follows, that those who have been fully vaccinated with the World Health Organisation recommended vaccines are now exempted from mandatory wearing of face masks in outdoor public spaces, but should however wear face masks in indoor public spaces and on public transport,” she said.
“Those who are fully vaccinated should carry their vaccination cards all the time.”
Zimbabwe made the wearing of masks in public compulsory on May 4, 2020 to curb a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana scrapped the mandatory wearing of masks in public several months ago.
According to the Health and Child Care ministry, on Tuesday Zimbabwe only recorded only four new Covid-19 cases and there were no deaths.
Mutsvangwa said the country registered a 46 percent decline in new infections after 57 cases were recorded last week, compared to 105 the previous week.
The country recorded an average of eight new cases per day last week compared to 15 the previous week.
Zimbabwe’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 256 561 as at August 15 with 250 733 recoveries and 5 588 deaths.
To fight the pandemic, the government also made vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory and as of August 15, 6 390 545 people had received their first dose of the vaccine while 4 752 575 had received the second dose.
Another 959 909 had been given the third dose.