South Africans panic buying in preparation for lockdown

South Africans have started to panic buy food and other essentials ahead of a government mandated lockdown on Thursday. 

This comes as the country records the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases on the continent, with 709 recorded so far.

The lockdown, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night, will take effect from midnight on Thursday and will restrict all South Africans to their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances. 

All shops and other businesses will also be closed, except for those providing essential services.

Medical and security personnel will be able to leave their homes to assist with the response and temporary shelters have been set up to protect the homeless. 

Across Africa, the number of new infections is rising rapidly, despite widespread lockdowns, curfews and travel bans.

In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, all markets and shops are closed except for those selling food and medicine. 

Meanwhile, France has offered to send special aid packages to particularly vulnerable countries, many of which are in Africa. 

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