South Africa authorities have announced a three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus as infections continue to surge and threaten to spiral out of control from midnight on Thursday 26 March, ending on April 16th, 2020.
The categories of people who will be exempted from this lockdown are the following: health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel, those in security services – such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel, soldiers – and other persons necessary for our response to the pandemic.
It will also include those involved in the production, distribution, and supply of food and basic goods, essential banking services, the maintenance of power, water and telecommunications services, laboratory services, and the provision of medical and hygiene products. A full list of essential personnel will be published.
South Africa has confirmed 402 Covid-19 infections — the most in Africa. The first one was detected on March 5.
