SA’s future? Green shoots of post Covid-19 normalcy emerge – The Wall Street Journal

Some form of normality is starting to return to the world as governments are increasingly lifting the strict lockdown measures that they have imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19. In the United Kingdom; McDonald's have reopened some of its drive-throughs and the government is considering blanket permission for restaurants, pubs, cafes and bars to use pedestrianised streets and open spaces for tables and chairs. It follows an appeal by the hospitality industry to allow more al fresco dining with social distancing which they have labelled 'The UK's grand outdoor summer café'. Ok, don't laugh sunny South Africa; the country does enjoy warm weather at times in the summer and the Brits will probably remain seated even if it pours. Many of the well-known coffee shops have also re-opened and Britons have been queuing to grab a coffee as these shops that have been part of daily life, now seem like a luxury. The Wall Street Journal chronicles the opening up of economies all over the world and cites green shoots of normalcy starting to emerge. It comes as coronavirus cases are still rising in many countries including the US, Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa. Yesterday a top US scientist who did groundbreaking research on cancer and HIV/Aids, Dr William Haseltine told Reuters that governments should not count on a successful vaccine against Covid-19 when deciding on whether to ease restrictions; he said the virus can be controlled by "identifying infections, finding people who have been exposed and isolating them". China and other Asian countries, that have already started opening up their economics are using this strategy successfully. As the restaurant sector in South Africa has warned the government that it is in the ICU on a ventilator; it is time to find creative ways of opening up the economy while containing a virus that is likely to be around for the foreseeable future; there are plenty examples of how to do it successfully. – Linda van  Tilburg

Coronavirus case count tops five million world-wide

By Chong Koh Ping and Matthew Dalton

(The Wall Street Journal) – The global tally of coronavirus infections passed five million on Thursday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, but more green shoots of normalcy emerged in parts of the world as governments continued lifting pandemic lockdown orders.

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