"We have observed that physical distancing, including the prohibition of mass gatherings, took some time to happen," says Matshidiso Moeti of the WHO. "Lifting so-called lockdown restrictions is not the end of the epidemic in any country, it's just the beginning of the next phase," he said. Who's kept tough restrictions in place? Many African countries have had experience in combating infectious diseases, and many took tough measures even before they reported outbreaks. The South African government has said it will gradually ease the lockdown from 30 April, but is currently enforcing one of the harshest lockdowns anywhere in the world.

Source: The Star April 26, 2020 06:00 UTC