South Africa: Ramaphosa announces three-week lockdown

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the imposition of a three-week lockdown in the country, starting from midnight on Thursday, in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus. 

Addressing the nation on Monday night, President Ramaphosa explained that the next few days would be “crucial” in combatting the spread of the virus.

For ordinary South Africans the lockdown will mean that individuals are unable to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances.

All shops and businesses will also be closed except for those providing essential services such as food or medicine.  

Temporary shelters will be set up for the homeless, while medical and security personnel are exempt from restrictions on movement. 

The president added that “we must do everything within our means to reduce the overall number of infections and to delay the spread of infection over a longer period” . 

There are currently 402 cases of coronavirus in South Africa - six times the number recorded just eight days ago. 

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