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Africa News of Monday, 23 March 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

BREAKING: South Africa goes into three weeks lock down over coronavirus [Video]

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa play videoSouth Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a three-week nationwide lockdown in order to help the country battle the deadly coronavirus.

Ramaphosa made the announcement on Monday during a live televised address that the nationwide lockdown will last for 21 days, beginning from midnight on Thursday the 26th of March until April 16.

The measures are put in place to save lives of South Africans, the president said.

As such, all South Africans are required to "stay at home except for essential purposes", a tweet from the president's office says.

He urged all to adhere strictly to the already announced and added safety measures.

Those excluded from the lockdown are "health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel, security services such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel and other persons necessary for our response to the pandemic."

He added that "those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and basic goods, essential banking services, maintenance of power, water and telecommunications services, laboratory services and the provision of medical and hygiene products" will also be included.