Disappointment for businesses after President Cyril Ramaphosa says major centres to remain at level 4
Most of the country may see a further relaxation of one of the most stringent lockdown regulations in the world by the end of May, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a late-night speech that otherwise offered few details.
SA has been in a Covid-19 nationwide lockdown for almost seven weeks, causing economists to forecast the worst economic contraction in at least a century. In his speech, the president sounded a conciliatory tone, acknowledging that mistakes had been made, that some regulations were poorly communicated and enforcement was too harsh.
“The transition to the next phase of the coronavirus response will in many ways be more difficult than the present one. The risk of infection outbreaks will increase as more people return to work. This calls for vigilance, responsibility and discipline from all of us,” Ramaphosa said. The level of confirmed infections in SA was about 181 people per million of the population, he said. This was in contrast to countries such as the US, the UK, Spain and Italy as well as Singapore, which have between 2,400 and 4,600 coronavirus cases per million people.
There has been widespread criticism and unhappiness about some of the stringent regulations put in place and the way the government has conducted itself and communicated.
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.
City of London bankers may have to work from home for a yearSafety worries and cost savings mean financial services companies are in no hurry to go back to business as usual
Read more »
Lock, stock and wine barrel: Pineapple beerPerhaps it’s time to just accept that we’re a teetotal nation right now.
Read more »
Lesotho’s coalition government led by Thomas Thabane collapsesThabane must step down next week as new coalition forms
Read more »
Airlines stay loyal to grounded frequent flyers to varying degreesGrounded travellers are facing downgrades but some airlines are rewarding loyalty
Read more »
Broadway to stay closed until at least SeptemberThe decision is not particularly surprising given that New York remains the US epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more »
‘I had never heard of Zoom before'‘I had never heard of Zoom before' Polokwane City captain Jabu Maluleke believes the team will come back with a renewed sense of energy to complete the season on a high note and avoid relegation
Read more »