Health workers carry placards as they protest against economic hardship and poor working conditions during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Harare, Zimbabwe on July 6, 2020. (Photo: Agencies)

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has introduced new stricter lockdown regulations after the country reported a surge in the number of novel coronavirus infections.

In an address to the nation on Tuesday, Mnangagwa said starting Wednesday all non-working citizens must stay at home and move only when they want to secure food, water and health services.

He also announced a totally new measure, a dusk-to-dawn curfew between 6 pm and 6 am that exempts only essential service providers.

"Only registered small businesses, which have been allocated work spaces, will be allowed to operate. Food markets remain open while intercity travel and public gatherings remain banned as previously," he said.

In making the decision, Mnangagwa said the number of positive cases had increased by 600 in the past week, while the number of local transmissions have also shot up with many being reported at workplaces.

Several companies, including the CIMAS Medical Aid Society, Econet Wireless, Public Service Medical Aid Society, NMB Bank, Star Africa, OK Zimbabwe and government statistic body ZIMSTAT, have closed after their employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

"For the first-time local transmissions now exceed imported cases, the former standing at 872 and the latter at 841. COVID-19 is thus no longer a problem out there, far and beyond our borders; rather it is now here amongst us and in our communities," Mnangagwa said.

Nick Mangwana, the government spokesman, explained that curfews are part of COVID-19 containment measures. "Curfews are inconvenient but necessary," he said.

In the past month, Zimbabwe has witnessed a spike in coronavirus infections with cases concentrated mostly in Harare, the capital, and Bulawayo, the second-largest city.

Zimbabwe had eased its lockdown measures to allow previously restricted industries, such as the informal sector, to begin operating as long they were registered, and universities and colleges to open for exam classes only.

However, on Tuesday, the government suspended all face-to-face lecturers in all tertiary education institutions and encouraged e-learning to save students and staff from COVID-19.

As of Tuesday, Zimbabwe had 1,820 confirmed cases, 26 deaths and 488 recoveries.