InternationalNews

South Africa makes U-turn on cigarette sales

South Africa has reversed a decision to allow cigarette sales when coronavirus restrictions are eased at the start of next month.

The government had said smokers would be able to buy cigarettes from 1 May. Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who leads the National Coronavirus Command Council, said health considerations had played a part in the decision to maintain the ban.

South Africans were given only a few days’ notice to stock up when the government announced the lockdown – which also stopped the sale of alcohol.

From May, outdoor exercise will be allowed and some businesses can reopen. South Africa recorded more than 300 new virus cases on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has criticised South Africa for accepting more than 200 Cuban medics to help battle coronavirus. Mr Pompeo accused Cuba of profiting from the pandemic, the AFP news agency reports.

The team of Cuban medics arrived in the African nation on Sunday night.

They include family physicians, epidemiologists, biotechnology experts and health-care technology engineers.

They are to be deployed to different provinces by South Africa’s Department of Health, according to Cuba’s ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson.

Source: Fiilafmonline/BBC

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