Economic Carnage Spurs South Africa to Consider Easing Lockdown
- Decision on new rules could be taken within 10 days: official
- Restrictions could be eased in areas with low infection rates
People gather on a street corner in the Central Business District of Johannesburg, on May 7.
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
South Africa’s National Command Council, the body overseeing the government’s response to the coronavirus crisis, is considering easing lockdown rules more rapidly as the economy tanks and poverty levels soar, according to three senior officials with knowledge of the talks.
Curbs could be relaxed in some provinces or areas with low infection rates, and retained in hotspots such as Cape Town, according to two of the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to comment. While one official said a decision is likely to be taken within 10 days, another said no timeline had been set for adjusting the lockdown level.