ANKARA

Zimbabwe’s government has warned those who are said to be promoting false figures of COVID-19 cases in the country, local media reported on Tuesday.

“The National Taskforce has noted with concern several reports of persons who are not authorised to issue statements and information regarding Covid-19 test results. This has led to misinformation that causes unnecessary panic and affects efforts to respond to the pandemic,” Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation quoted Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa as saying.

“We are at a time where we speak more about how many of our loved ones have passed on than how many have tested positive. This is not an easy time for the nation. Each one of us has a critical role to play in the battle that is before us. The Inter-Ministerial Taskforce continues to prepare so that we can deal with the eye of the storm,” Mutsvangwa added.

A total of 2,704 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Zimbabwe, with 36 deaths, according to data compiled by the US-based John Hopkins University.

Last week, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced to renew a COVID-19 lockdown, imposing a curfew starting as of Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time (1600-0400GMT).