South Africa tightens Covid rules as ‘devastating wave’ gathers pace

President announces new restrictions amid warnings surge across continent could be worst yet'

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Authorities in South Africa have imposed new restrictions in a last ditch attempt to stem a sharp rise in Covid-19 that is ravaging the country's economic heartland.

The wave of infections has been driven by the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant, weak countermeasures and public fatigue with existing restrictions.