Saffers at coronavirus ground zero – the tide is turning in some Chinese cities

Fears of a global coronavirus pandemic is growing. The United Kingdom has reported four further cases bringing their total to 13 and Italy's tally went up to 200 with four deaths forcing Italian authorities to shut down schools, universities, museums and cinemas, and banning all public events. Fears of a global pandemic have sunk global stock markets, while the price of gold, which is regarded as a safe-haven, has reached the highest level since February 2013. But in China it seems that the tide is turning, that things are starting to get back to normal as the lockdown is being lifted in some cities. The two Durban schoolteachers, Andy and Gary Cronje who live in Hangzhou and described their city as a 'Zombie Apocalypse' to Biznews at the beginning of the month, but things are starting to turn as deliveries arrive from the outside, and children have been given the "green code" and are playing outside again. In the interview, the Cronje's mention hearing about a suspected case in eSwatini, which would have been the first in Sub Saharan Africa; fortunately multiple tests on the person involved were negative. – Linda van Tilburg

Andy and Gary Cronje say that since yesterday there has been a hive of activity in Hangzhou. There is more traffic on the roads and lorries are queuing with deliveries, and the shops that they have visited were filled with boxes with fresh stock. Although there was a steady supply of fresh produce through the lockdown of their city; they have noticed that more of the luxury items and imported stuff was available in shops again. Andy was particularly happy to see that Coca Cola was available again.

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