More than 183 people countrywide were this week arrested and fined between $200 and $500 for not wearing face masks outside their homes.
Under the relaxed lockdown restrictions imposed by the government to slow the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus, it is mandatory to wear face masks in public places.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests and urged the public to follow the rules. He said:
We have to date, arrested 183 people across the country for not wearing face masks in public places. We have been very clear on that issue, anyone found without a face mask would be arrested.
Asst Comm Nyathi further revealed that the number of arrests made since the beginning of the lockdown on 30 March has risen to 23 162.
Bulawayo has the highest number of offenders with 5 398 arrests, while Manicaland and Harare recorded 4 902 and 2 999 respectively.
Other provinces have the following recorded cases: Midlands (2 167), Mashonaland West (2 162), Matabeleland South (1 332), Masvingo (1 192), Matabeleland North (1 010), Mashonaland Central (960), and Mashonaland East Province (926).