- Title: South Africans stock up ahead of coronavirus lockdown
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LONG QUEUE OUTSIDE WHOLESALER, MAKRO SHOPPERS SANITISING HANDS BEFORE ENTERING THE STORE QUEUE OF SHOPPERS WAITING TO GO INTO THE STORE SHOPPERS PACKING FOOD ITEMS INTO THE CAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOPPER, ANNE BROWN, SAYING: "We've got children that we look after - we've got foster children that we need to feed. So we've just got the basic and they know, there's no fancy foods it's your normal healthy eating just to keep going for the next 21 days. But no panic buying at all. MORE OF SHOPPERS PACKING FOOD ITEMS INTO THE CAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOPPER, STEVE BROWN, SAYING: "I think in this country with the, although we are doing this lockdown earlier than most other countries have. As it was pointed out, we have a tremendous township population that is extremely vulnerable and if the coronavirus lets loose in the townships, there's going to be absolute carnage." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOPPER, MPHO CHABE, SAYING: "Tomorrow or by the 25th it'll be hectic here which is already hectic like so I'm just preparing. Not actually... what do they call it? Panic shopping - no I'm just, as you can see it's basic stuff." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SHOPPING
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 11:47
- Keywords: Coronavirus South Africans panic buying epidemic lockdown pandemic panic buying supermarkets virus
- Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- City: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C6EWKZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Scores of South Africans rushed to the shops as panic buying intensified on Tuesday (March 24) following President Cyril Ramaphosa's 21-day lockdown announcement due to begin from midnight on Thursday (March 26) to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Shoppers were seen buying various food essentials in bulk in fear of not being able to go to shops till next month. Ramaphosa said the lockdown would end on April 16.
South Africa's number of confirmed cases reached 554 on Tuesday, the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Public health experts are worried that it could overwhelm the health system if infection rates continue to rise.
South Africans will still be able to leave their homes to buy food, seek medical care and collect social grants.
But all shops and businesses will be closed, except for essentials including pharmacies, banks, supermarkets and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
(Production: Andy Ragg, Vanessa Romeo, Siyabonga Sishi, Sisipho Skweyiya) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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