Afghan government will deploy 1,600 police tomorrow to enforce a lockdown in Kabul, aimed at curbing the coronavirus outbreak, thr country's acting interior minister said on Tuesday.

Massoud Andarabi instructed police to allow movement of only health workers, security forces, media and communications personnel, and those shopping for basic necessities.

He told the police to take government employees flouting the restrictions to police stations and report the matter to their offices.

The government announced a three-week lockdown on Kabul beginning from March 28, but the restrictions were largely ignored by people.

The government has registered 423 coronavirus cases so far, including 73 in Kabul.