Government has noted with concern that some citizens are not adhering to social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement issued by the Taskforce on COVID-19, spokesperson Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said Government was worried about non-compliant behaviour.

“We note that some citizens continue to struggle with practising social distancing.

Government urges each and everyone one of us to remind the next person the need to maintain social distance and other preventative behaviour. We have to be each other’s keeper in order to beat this invisible enemy, coronavirus,’’ Minister Mutsvangwa said.

The number of people who have been arrested for defying the 21-day lockdown directive has risen to 182. On the first day of the lockdown, 19 people were arrested for various non-compliant offences.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged the public to avoid aimless movements.

“Police have observed aimless movements by motorists with some claiming to be looking for fuel or shopping for basic commodities.

Such motorists are advised that the law provides for them to do the shopping at centres within a 5-kilometre radius of their residence.

“Those found without justification of being outside the said radius will be arrested and prosecuted in terms of Section 4 of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020. Also, members of the public who are queuing for basics commodities should do so in an orderly manner in line with guidelines provided by Government,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said save for the exempt organisations, all citizens with organisations not listed on the exemptions are urged to abide by the directive.

While the majority of Zimbabweans largely observed the lockdown measures laid out by President Mnangagwa last week, there was an increase in presence of people in most urban centres across the country.-State media