Opinion | In Africa, an economic shutdown may devastate more lives than coronavirus infection

While lockdowns will help to contain the virus, most people will survive an infection

In a continent where 85 per cent of people live on less than US$5.50 per day, a work stoppage of any length is literally life-threatening

Reading Time:4 minutes

Published: 9:00am, 1 Apr 2020Updated: 11:05pm, 7 Apr 2020

While data about the coronavirus’ impact on Africa has been slow to emerge, African leaders are stepping up to play their part in the global effort to battle the outbreak. Algeria, Morocco, Djibouti, and Kenya have ordered sweeping travel restrictions and quarantine measures. Some countries, like Tanzania, are taking a more measured approach.

Among the most dramatic (and worrying) steps taken have been those by the Rwandan and South African governments. They have ordered lockdowns of 14 and 21 days, respectively.

The South African lockdown even includes a ban on the sale of alcohol. As one fellow said to me, “Man, why ban alcohol, given all that’s going on a brother needs a drink.” He’s got a point! Because of the lockdown, I’m in Johannesburg for, at least, the duration.

Being in South Africa, I appreciate that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had to do something. Given the extent to which Covid-19 panic has gripped the world, South Africans are also concerned about the implications of the coronavirus for their country and families. So, the president had to step up.

Likewise, as tourism accounts for 9 per cent of South Africa’s gross domestic product, arguably the world was watching what the country would do as well. To revive this sector once the crisis passes, the country has to appear to be dealing with it seriously.

Having acknowledged why something needed to be done to combat the outbreak, an equally reasonable question to ask is: why did this something have to be a lockdown? In the time leading up to the lockdown, in conversations I had with people from Uber drivers to waiters, questions about the necessity for a lockdown were uppermost on their minds.

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