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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter

POLICE have on Sunday arrested 2 615 people countrywide for violating the level four Covid-19 national lockdown regulations.

Out of those, 1 535 people were arrested for unnecessary movements while 633 were apprehended for failure to wear face masks.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said the operation was ongoing.

“The ZRP confirms that 2 615 people were arrested on January 31 for contravening the country’s Covid-19 regulations. One thousand five hundred and thirty-five people were arrested for unnecessary movements while 633 were accounted for in relation to failure to wear face masks,” he said.

“Let us all stay safe in order to curb the spread of Covid -19.”

During the lockdown, people are supposed to be confined to their homes and may only leave to buy basic necessities at a supermarket or food retail store, or fuel or gas at a fuel or gas retail outlet, within a radius not exceeding five kilometres or the nearest establishment if those within the radius are closed.

The country has of late witnessed a high number of local infections amid fears that the second wave of the pandemic will be more deadly than the first

In Bulawayo police recently launched a crackdown dubbed “Etown udingani” targeting violators of the 6PM to 6AM curfew, among other lockdown regulations.

They impounded 95 vehicles from motorists, including pirate taxis, for defying the level lockdown regulations meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.