Economics

South Africa Readies for Lockdown With Virus Cases Mounting

Country has confirmed 554 coronavirus infections since March 5
Standard Bank expects economy to contract 5% this year

WHO Chief Says Africa Has to Prepare for the Worst With Coronavirus

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By Michael Cohen, Prinesha Naidoo, and Antony Sguazzin

March 24, 2020 at 10:42 AM UTC

Updated on

March 24, 2020 at 4:59 PM UTC

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South African businesses prepared to shut down operations and supermarkets were inundated by shoppers as the country braced for a three-week lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.