Kinshasa backs down on lockdown after price hike
The governor of Kinshasa backed down from a total lockdown of the DRC capital on Friday (March 27).
In a statement, he said the three week long total lockdown would be postponed--
due to the vast increase in the price of basic goods which it had spurred in the lead up.
After the lockdown was announced, the price of basic food items and essential goods had shot up.
In some shops they were up two to three times the normal price by Friday when people flocked to supermarkets.
All other measures still remain in place.
DRC has 58 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Although Africa has fewer cases of COVID-19 than Europe and the United States, fears are that when the curve begins to rise considerably the sub Saharan countries' fragile health systems will be overwhelmed.
