China News Agency, Johannesburg, August 13 (Reporter Wang Xi) As of August 13, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in South Africa reached 568,919, and 11010 deaths. It is worth mentioning that the number of newly confirmed cases for two consecutive days was less than 3,000, and the cure rate exceeded 75%, showing that South Africa has achieved success in fighting the epidemic.

　　Under this circumstance, South Africa’s "blockade order" against the epidemic is expected to be reduced from level three to level two this week, and various bans on the public will also be further relaxed. Especially in the wake of the urgent need for economic recovery, the people of South Africa are ready to welcome the "new life".

On July 22, local time, in Johannesburg, South Africa, a clerk in a liquor store puts on a face mask to sort the goods in the refrigerator. Photo by China News Agency reporter Wang Xi

　　As a hot spot here, the retention and abolition of the tobacco product sales ban has become one of the focal points of South African society. In response, the South African Tobacco Transformation Alliance (Satta) issued a statement calling on the South African government to lift the ban on the industry and resume normal sales of tobacco products.

　　The statement pointed out that since the "blockade order" against the new crown pneumonia epidemic was implemented on March 27, the nationwide "smoking ban" has lasted for more than four months, during which more than 296,000 people's normal work and life have been affected. At the same time, the sales ban on tobacco products also led to rampant illegal tobacco sales activities in South Africa, causing the South African government to lose more than 4 billion rand (about 1.6 billion yuan) in related tax revenue.

　　In this regard, Shadrack, chairman of the South African Tobacco Transformation Alliance, said that since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia, South Africa has become the only country in the world that has imposed a ban on tobacco products, but as of now, there is no evidence that the ban on tobacco products Help fight the new crown pneumonia epidemic. He said frankly: "For the South African tobacco industry under the ban, the only winners are smugglers and illegal salesmen. According to our calculations, the South African government loses approximately 35 million rand (about 14 million yuan) in tax revenue every day. ."(Finish)