Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Zimbabwe Leader Extends COVID-19 Lockdown

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE, ZIMABABWE - Zimbabwe's leader has extended a lockdown to
   contain COVID-19, which has officially infected 42 people in the
   poverty-stricken nation. Public health experts say the extension is the
   right move, but jobless informal workers are asking the government to
   pay them.

   In a televised address, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Saturday that
   he was worried by the increase in cases of local transmission of the
   coronavirus in Zimbabwe and that the country was not yet in a position
   to lift the lockdown.

   "Zimbabwe will therefore continue on Level 2 lockdown for an indefinite
   period," he said. "We shall have regular two-week interval reviews to
   assess progress or lack of it. This should give us more time to
   strengthen the prevention and case management approaches for the
   various risk populations. '¦ Social and physical distancing will
   continue to be maintained and enforced at all times. I appeal to our
   people to exercise greater discipline in this regard."

   The United Nations says Zimbabwe is facing a plethora of humanitarian
   problems, such as recurring droughts, food insecurity and a collapsing
   economy, and needs international assistance.

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