South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced an easing of the nationwide lockdown in response to the Covid- 19 outbreak in the country.
Speaking on Thursday during a live telecast,the president said a phased reopening of the economy will begin on May 1.
Ramaphosa noted that although a lockdown remains the most effective way to limit the spread of the virus, the prosperity of South Africans would be at risk with a continued lockdown.
“Nationwide lockdown cannot be sustained indefinitely,” he said. “People need to eat, earn a living and companies need to be able to produce and trade, need to generate revenue and keep people employed.”
The president, however, noted that the lockdown has worked and the need to save lives and prevent the country’s health system becoming overwhelmed remains paramount. In consultation with scientists and other experts, the government has introduced a tiered system of response to the virus .
