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. There are also reports of a case in Swaziland, which would be Africa’s first coronavirus case. 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. – Linda van Tilburg