Eswatini’s acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku has banned public gatherings and international travel for leisure purposes as part of a partial lockdown to prevent the further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The coronavirus containment measures, announced on Thursday, come into effective on Friday, 08 January 2021.
The prime minister said that starting on Friday at midnight, the only public gatherings allowed are funerals with attendance limited to 50 people.
He added that funeral wakes should not exceed three days, while memorial services would be banned until further notice.
“Funerals are limited to two hours, with a maximum of 50 people,” Masuku said. “Burials beyond three days after death will require a permit.”
All retailers will close their premises at 18:00 local time, while liquor stores will close at 16:00 local time and remain closed during weekends.
Travel outside eSwatini will only be allowed for medical purposes, school, business and work.
The new restrictions will be in place for 14 days before a review is done.
The country recorded 234 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the government says, bringing the total cases to 10,773 including 268 deaths.
Former Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini died last month from the virus.
Meanwhile, England has banned visitors from eSwatini and 10 other South Africa neighbours – Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola as well as Seychelles and Mauritius – from entry over the COVID-19 new strain.
