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Tag: lockdown

No, WHO hasn’t ‘unequivocally’ said South Africa is not ready to lift Covid-19 lockdown

Claim

The World Health Organization “unequivocally” declared that South Africa was not ready to lift the national Covid-19 lockdown.
Source: Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Economic Freedom Fighters member of parliament (30 June 2020)

incorrect

Verdict

There is no evidence of the WHO making this statement. The organisation says it only provides guidance but governments have to make their own decisions.

Read more

10:02 | 5 August 2020 (GMT)

  • Coronavirus
  • covid-19
  • health
  • lockdown

Blog post: ANALYSIS: ‘Close to a million’ smokers quit under South Africa’s Covid-19 rules? Limits to lockdown research

Tobacco sales have been outlawed under South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown since March 2020. Has the ban made a million or so smokers quit the habit?

10:00 | 10 July 2020 (GMT)

15 comments

  • Coronavirus
  • covid-19
  • lockdown
  • smoke
  • smoking
  • South Africa
  • tobacco

Up in smoke: Roughly R35m in tobacco tax revenues lost daily during South Africa’s lockdown

Claim

South Africa is losing R35 million every day in tax revenue because of the ban on cigarettes.
Source: Yusuf Abramjee, founder of Tax Justice South Africa (29 April 2020)

mostly-correct

Verdict

Excise tax revenues for tobacco sales in April 2020, the first full month of the Covid-19 lockdown, were down more than R36 million daily compared to April 2019.

Read more

09:44 | 17 June 2020 (GMT)

  • cigarettes
  • lockdown
  • revenues
  • smoke
  • smoking
  • tax
  • tobacco

Blog post: South Africa’s exercise restrictions similar to French capital but stricter than UK

Under the lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19, South Africans are only allowed outside their homes to exercise for three hours in the early morning. President Ramaphosa compared this restriction to the UK and Paris – is he correct?

12:06 | 8 May 2020 (GMT)

1 comment

  • Coronavirus
  • covid-19
  • Exercise restrictions
  • France
  • lockdown
  • UK

Blog post: LOCKDOWN CHECK: Do South Africans need ‘proof’ of reason when they leave home under lockdown?

South Africans have been told to stay home for 21 days to fight the spread of Covid-19. Do they need to provide ‘proof’ when they venture out for groceries or medical care?

07:38 | 3 April 2020 (GMT)

9 comments

  • Coronavirus
  • lockdown
  • South Africa

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