South Africa, which had one of the world’s earliest and strictest lockdowns, is marking a significant shift in its fight against COVID. As a country that has long battled against diseases like HIV and tuberculosis, the latter being particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, South Africa already has robust systems in place to deal with COVID.
Throughout the pandemic, South Africa’s response has been led by world-class scientists and epidemiologists, and praised by the WHO as a model for other countries to follow. Executive Director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, Michael Ryan, referred to South Africa’s COVID-19 response as being “incredible” and among the best in the world.
