Eswatini has extended a partial lockdown meant to prevent the spread of coronavirus by another four weeks and banned the sale of alcohol.

The country, previously known as Swaziland, neighbours South Africa where coronavirus cases are surging because of a new Covid-19 variant.

Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said alcohol sales would be totally banned for the four weeks.

The initial partial lockdown, announced two weeks ago, had restricted the sale of alcohol to weekdays.

Travel outside the country remains banned except for medical reasons or work.

Public gatherings also remain banned except for funerals with no more than 50 people in attendance.

The Eswatini government tweeted about the extension:

The country has 13,789 confirmed cases of the virus, with more than 2,000 cases recorded in the last 14 days.

The number of deaths from the virus has risen from 268 when the lockdown was announced to 427 by Wednesday.