South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans by the government to further ease lockdown restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.
In a televised address on Sunday, Ramaphosa noted the harm the disease has caused in his country, but said the indefinite time it may take to develop a vaccine means the country cannot continue being in a lockdown.
“Moving to alert level three marks a significant shift in our approach to the pandemic. This will result in the opening up of the economy and the removal of a number of restrictions on the movement of people, while significantly expanding and intensifying our public health interventions,” the president said.
The easing of the lockdown from a level four to a level three will take effect from June 1.
South Africa is the worst affected country by the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, having reported more than 21,000 infections and 407 deaths.
President Ramaphosa also called for a fair distribution of any vaccine upon development.
“We have argued that should a vaccine be developed anywhere in the world it should be made freely and equitably available to citizens of all countries,” he said.
