HARARE, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's government on Monday further extended operating hours for businesses as it gradually reopens the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zimbabwe's Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said that the operating hours for retail, wholesale and service businesses that had been set at 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. had been extended to start at 6:30 a.m. and close at 6:30 p.m. with immediate effect.

"As we gradually open the economy, we need to remember that we are doing this while taking all necessary precautions to fight the invisible enemy, COVID-19," Mutsvangwa said.

"The easing of lockdown restrictions is not an indication that we have defeated this pandemic, but we are a nation seeking to balance between our economic interests and the protection of life," she said.

Examination classes for the British-run Cambridge examinations opened on Monday while examination classes for the locally-run Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council will open on Sept. 28.

The government last week resumed domestic flights while international flights will start on Oct. 1 as the government moves to shore up the tourism sector which was recently opened after five months of closure due to the pandemic.

As of Sunday, Zimbabwe had recorded 7,526 COVID-19 cases, 5,678 recoveries and 224 deaths. Enditem

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