Schools in Zimbabwe are set to reopen on February 7 after a weeks-long delay in allowing learners back following an upsurge in new COVID-19 infections.

The country's acting Health and Child Care Minister Amon Murwira, on behalf of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga – who is acting as President during Emmerson Mnangagwa's leave – announced the planned reopening of schools alongside other eased containment measures.

Zimbabwe has seen a decline in the number of new daily infections, with experts saying the country has already gone beyond its peak.

Murwira in a statement announced that Zimbabwe's nationwide night curfew will now begin at midnight and end at 5:30 a.m. local time.

Bars and nightclubs will only be open to vaccinated persons, and must close by 10:00 p.m. local time.

Visitors traveling into the country will be required to provide negative COVID-19 PCR test results taken 48 hours before departure.

Murwira in his statement urged the public to get vaccinated and reiterated that the wearing of face coverings in public spaces remains mandatory.

So far, Zimbabwe has reported 229,096 COVID-19 infections with 5,324 fatalities.