South African Police Fire Rubber Bullets At Shoppers Amid Lockdown Covid-19 Lockdown

South African police force and soldiers have used rubber bullets to enforce lockdown after hundreds about shoppers gathered outside a supermarket inside Johannesburg.

The disturbance came on top of Saturday, the second day about the 21-day lockdown that was ordered preceding week through head of state Cyril Ramaphosa to contain the open (out) about the coronavirus.

has recorded more than 1,100 cases about Covid-19, a steep stand up inside recent days. So far, it is believed only one death can exist attributed to the virus.

South Africa’s total number about cases is the highest on top of the continent, while it also reflects much more extensive testing and tracing than elsewhere. There have so far way|miles} been 3,924 cases inside the continent, according to the , while experts say the figures are a obvious underestimate.

Most African countries have now imposed measures ranging from shutting schools and banning holy services, to strict lockdowns such as that inside South , where all but essential workers essential stay home, accompanied by only trips to buy groceries or seek medical attention allowed.

All restaurants, fast-food outlets, pubs, bars and taverns determination exist shut and transportation about alcohol has been banned. Ports, ground border crossings and airports are effectively shut to passenger traffic.

Zimbabwe is the latest country to impose a full lockdown, which determination come into effect on top of Monday. The country’s limited healthcare system would exist rapidly overwhelmed if the virus open (out) among a population already weakened through malnutrition and diseases such as tuberculosis. Drugs are already rare, accompanied by even paracetamol hard to find inside Harare, the capital.

Though the new restrictions have been largely respected inside South Africa, police force and soldiers have adopted a strong approach to defiance.

In the disturbance on top of Saturday, between 200 and 300 people had gathered inside a tight-packed multitude outside a popular grocery store, Shoprite, inside Yeoville, a crime-prone area inside Johannesburg’s central business district.

Soldiers wearing face masks and gloves also patrolled Alexandra, a township inside northern Johannesburg, and officials said 55 people had been arrested on top of Friday.

“These are people who don’t have a good will, people who are doing exactly what they were told not to do,” .

“We are staying at home now. Before we were going to the shops, but the soldiers are beating people so everyone is inside now,” said Emily Ndemande, a domestic worker who lives inside Alexandra.

Other ministers praised “enormously tall levels about cooperation through tens about millions about South Africans who have followed the call through the head of state to stay at home.”

Billionaire Patrice Motsepe announced that his group about companies would donate 1bn rand (£45.5m) to help fight the coronavirus outbreak that has forced the country into total lockdown as infections climb.

Motsepe, who is the president’s brother-in-law and head about investment firm African Rainbow Capital, said the money would exist channelled through the government to make water, health and education facilities.

The pledge follows a 1bn rand donation each through the Oppenheimer and Rupert families, and a government package about more than 3bn rand for business firms. It comes a day after the country saw its sovereign honour ranking downgraded to “junk” status.

Though South has a young population, and Covid-19 is deadlier among older people, there are millions who are vulnerable because about HIV or malnutrition. The healthcare system has long had an acute lack about resources and crucial facilities remain extremely limited despite recent efforts to expand capacity.

The situation is considerably worse elsewhere inside the continent. Health officials across Africa know hospitals can deal accompanied by only a fraction about those needing care if the virus spreads through crowded cities, remote villages and among vulnerable populations such as refugees, malnourished people or those accompanied by HIV and other chronic conditions.

Officials inside Mali, which has a population about over 17 million, vociferously denied a report saying they had no ventilators available, explaining that inside reality they had 56.

Governments across Africa have turned to the police force or army to enforce lockdowns which deprive millions about their livelihood. In Kenya, where there are currently 38 cases about Covid-19, police force fired teargas at a multitude about ferry commuters inside the port city about Mombasa and officers were captured inside mobile phone footage hitting people accompanied by batons.

Amnesty International condemned an “excessive use about police force force ahead about the curfew that began on top of Friday night”.

Kenya’s interior ministry issued a statement saying the curfew “is meant to guard against an apparent threat to public health. Breaking it is not only irresponsible but also puts others inside harm’s way.”

Lockdowns deliver a large economic blow to many inside Africa who have no savings and depend on top of each day’s work to exist experienced to eat. There are also widespread concerns about the feasibility about social distancing inside high-density poor neighbourhoods.

The stringent restrictions placed through the majority African nations on top of air travel, especially to or from parts about the world badly hit through Covid-19, may hamper the passage about vital medical and other supplies, World Health Organization experts said. Humanitarian corridors may exist necessary, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the organisation’s Africa director, added.

 

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