Thugs have torched a shop belonging to Chinese nationals, who they apparently blamed for bringing the coronavirus to South Africa.

The container shop in Leiden was set alight on Monday.

Shops on either side of the Chinese winkel were not damaged.

When the Daily Voice arrived on the scene yesterday, residents were going through the debris and salvaging items.

“It is stupid,” says resident Monique Herterbest.

“This shop hired people from the community and now these domkoppe burnt it down because of the coronavirus they (the Chinese nationals) know nothing about.”

The owner of a shop in the area who didn’t want to give his name says the Chinese owners have fled the area fearing for their lives.

“They are in Durbanville and they are not coming back. They were clearly targeted because other shops were not torched,” he says.

China shop torched in 'coronavirus attack'

But another resident believes it is a pure criminal act: “If they were scared of the virus, they would not have looted the food or even come close to the Chinese.”

Local councillor, Michelle Adonis, says she is investigating the matter: “I still need to find out what really happened (but) it is quite shameful that people would do such a thing.”

Meanwhile, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of a State of Disaster, the National Department of Social Development decided to close all Early Childhood Development and Partial Care Centres from today until 15 April 2020.

This after the Education Department declared all schools would close from today, and reopen after the Easter holidays.

Elsewhere, the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation will install more water tanks and stand pipes in informal settlements and rural areas as a matter of urgency to curb the spread of Covid-19 in these high density areas.

Water tanks and hand sanitiser will also be provided at trains stations, taxi ranks, and informal settlements.

Western Cape Government Health is also adjusting public hospital visiting protocol to limit the growing risk around the possible transmission of the virus.

Adjustments during visiting times may include: reduced visiting times, one visitor per patient, no patient rotation and no under 12-year-olds allowed in.

Visitors are asked to contact the hospital in advance to enquire about its visiting times, and will be screened before entry will be permitted.

BAGS: All that's left behind

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