HARARE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe has banned all sporting activities as part of new COVID-19 restrictions aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19.

Workers offload part of a consignment of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine from China off an Air Zimbabwe aeroplane which has just landed on February 15, 2021 at the Robert Mugabe International Airport. (File photo: AFP)

In a statement on Sunday, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) advised sports associations that all sporting events have been suspended indefinitely.

"All national sports associations, clubs, gyms and related stakeholders should abide by this suspension without exception.

"The SRC is well aware of certain ongoing, or contemplated, national sports commitments and will be in urgent direct communication with the relevant national associations thereof on guidance, and other mitigatory measures, in light of the above suspension," reads the statement.

Zimbabwe's Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga on Saturday announced additional restrictive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 following a surge of cases in recent weeks.

The measures include a ban of all public gatherings except for funerals, with only 30 people allowed to attend.

As of Sunday, Zimbabwe had recorded 39,959 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 37,004 recoveries and 1,632 deaths.