The number of coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe today rocketed to 885 after a record 98 people tested positive.

Fifty-one were returning residents with 28 from Botswana, 22 from South Africa and one from Eswatini (Swaziland) while 47 were local transmissions.

Five people from Matebeleland North recovered raising the figure to 206.

Zimbabwe now has 670 active cases after testing 82 077 people.

Deputy Health Minister John Mangwiro said the spike in the number of cases in recent weeks was a sign that people were mixing instead of staying at home.

“It’s a sign that people who are coming from outside especially from South Africa, people are mixing rather than keeping each other safe, we really need to take more care, need to really emphasise on our safety,” Dr Mangwiro said.

Nine people have died of the virus so far.