South Africa eases; liquor is sold, school openings delayed
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Many South Africans spent their Monday morning lining up outside liquor stores, as alcohol sales were allowed again after a two-month ban because of the coronavirus outbreak.But while South Africa — with the continent’s most developed economy and the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 — relaxed its strict lockdown, the reopening of most school classes was delayed and there was debate about how churches could safely resume services.The government postponed the planned opening of two grades for another week so that some under-prepared schools could get ready to resume classes for grades 7 and 12, the final years of elementary school and high school.Places of worship were allowed to open from Monday with limits on the number of people in congregations, yet many religious groups said they would refuse the opportunity. They said they were concerned about the danger of allowing people to gather in an enclosed building — something health experts warn against — and some also said that limiting the number of people who could come into their church is against their values.South Africa has reported over 32,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 600 people have died. The government warns that
