Police in Zimbabwe over the weekend confirmed the arrest of over 100,000 people for violating regulations aimed at curbing the spread of corona virus.

They disclosed that the figure is the number of arrest made for the same offence from March till date. The police noted that arrests were made for “unnecessary movement” or for not wearing face masks.

Although, restrictions have been slightly eased in the country, where more than 1,500 infections have been confirmed, government still impose some rules to help in the containment and prevention of the virus.

Meanwhile, critics have accused the government of using the measures to target the opposition and arrest activists; a charge which Harare denies.

Under current regulations, all Zimbabweans returning from abroad are required to remain in quarantine for three weeks at a government-approved facility.

According to police, a total of 276 people had fled quarantine centres, including some who had tested positive.

Almost 30 of them had been arrested, and would be taken to court for exposing their families and communities to the virus. They included two men who had infected seven members of a family and some others.