Lockdowns: Saving lives, but ruining livelihoods in Africa. As the informal sector accounts for more than 85% of employment across the continent and will be largely bypassed by economic support measures that cash-strapped governments are rolling out
Kemi Adepoju, a dressmaker, poses with a dress in her shop amid the spread of the coronavirus disease in Lagos, Nigeria April 5, 2020. REUTERS/Seun Sanni
The International Monetary Fund said in a blog on the outbreak’s impact on Africa last month that “social distancing” was not realistic for the most vulnerable, and the notion of working from home was only possible for the few. The coronavirus crisis has piled more pressure on the Nigerian government’s finances at a time when it was already struggling with a slump in the price of oil, the mainstay of the economy.Even South Africa, the continent’s most developed economy, has not been able to promise a massive fiscal stimulus to cushion the coronavirus blow, with the economy already in recession and unemployment hovering around 30%.
For many, all they can do is hunker down for a 21-day national lockdown to end, and hope business will pick up again.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Adam Sandler debuts quarantine song, applauds doctors and nurses 'saving lives'Adam Sandler has proven that a little laughter is just what the world needs as a means to ease the pain and suffering around the world caused by the escalating coronavirus pandemic.
Read more »
Opinion | Testing Is Our Way OutFrom WSJopinion: Returning to normal is too dangerous and lockdowns are unsustainable. We need advanced testing to save lives without inducing a depression, write paulmromer and Rajiv Shah
Read more »
Laura Whitmore compares lockdown sunbathing with Iain Stirling to South AfricaLove island's Laura Whitmore compared life in lockdown sunbathing to catching rays in South Africa as she spent time with her love Iain Stirling
Read more »
Coronavirus live updates: Germany drafts plan to end lockdown, Spain's daily death toll declinesThe coronavirus has infected more than 1,280,000 people as of Monday and killed at least 69,789 people.
Read more »
From daily dance parties to rediscovering love letters, a new website is documenting life under lockdownThe Social Distance Project documents people's experiences of life with their partners, children, parents — and themselves.
Read more »
Petra Ecclestone welcomes baby girl during coronavirus lockdownPetra Ecclestone and fiance Sam Palmer welcome baby girl during coronavirus lockdown
Read more »