Mbabane: In just a week after Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, commanded by His Majesty King Mswati III announced a 21-day extension of the ongoing partial lockdown last Thursday amid a gradual relaxation of business allowing non-essential businesses to operate, COVID-19 confirmed cases have doubled.
Last Wednesday, April 15 when the PM announced the relaxed partial lockdown, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases were 16 but have almost doubled to 31 according to figures reported by the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi on Tuesday, April 21. Government is expected to announce renewed restrictions on businesses and people movement tomorrow, April 23 as the country tries to curb the spread of the virus.
The press briefing will be led by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Senator Manqoba Khumalo and Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe.
With 31 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, April 21, ten have recovered with one death recorded.
To add on the essential businesses that included food and agriculture, retail and consumer goods supply, network infrastructure, fuel suppliers and law enforcements among others, government added more businesses to start operations, classifying those as non-essential but low risk.
These businesses included car wash businesses, construction, food vendors, stationery shops, dry cleaners and car dealers among others. However, government is expected to overturn reopening some of these businesses and revisit the public transport movement in tomorrow’s, April 23 briefing at cabinet offices. Businesses like hair dressing salons, manufacturing and distribution, wholesaling of liquor and night clubs among others continued their shutdown as they were categorised as high risk by government.
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