Jan, 21st 2021 – Eswatini has extended a partial lockdown meant to prevent the spread of coronavirus, by another four weeks, and banned the sale of alcohol. The country that was previously known as Swaziland, neighbors South Africa where coronavirus cases are surging due to a new variant.
The acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said that alcohol sales will be totally banned for four weeks. An initial partial lockdown announced two weeks ago had restricted the sale of alcohol to weekdays.
By Wednesday, the number of deaths from the virus had risen from 268 to 427 when the lockdown was announced.
Travel outside the country remains banned except for medical reasons or work. Public gatherings also remain banned except for funerals with not more than 50 people in attendance.
The Eswatini government tweeted about the extension.
Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku has announced an extension of the strengthened partial lockdown measures by another four weeks with effect from midnight, Thursday, 21 January 2021. “Further, the sale of alcohol is banned with immediate effect for the duration of the 4 weeks.” pic.twitter.com/kqPUc7YzI9
— Eswatini Government (@EswatiniGovern1) January 20, 2021
The country has 13,789 confirmed cases of the virus. In the last 14 days when the partial lockdown was first announced, more than 2,000 cases were recorded.