If I could press a reset button on 2020 I would. The Covid-19 pandemic rocked the world, shutting down industries, changing the way we live, the way we exist. On 23 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would be entering into a 21-day lockdown to fight the pandemic. Little did we know at the time how stringent the laws would be. The sale of alcohol and cigarettes were banned; social gatherings of more than 50 people were banned; our international borders were closed; we could only leave the house within a 5km radius from home between 6-9am to exercise; a curfew was imposed from 8pm

to 5am.

This 21-day lockdown was meant to give the private and public hospitals an opportunity to prepare for the peak of the outbreak. Right now, we’ve long since passed 100 days in lockdown.

Lockdown presented an enormous problem for me – my photography business was starting to gain momentum. After a year of self-employment as a writer, editor and photographer, I was earning a steady income. But lockdown meant I was no longer able to work as a photographer – it was not an essential service.

As lockdown extended, the restrictions became seemingly more ridiculous. There was a lot of anger around the restrictions in place here in South Africa; a lot that didn’t make sense. I wanted this series to highlight that. But then I started to read up on the lockdown laws globally. I soon realised we weren’t the only country with bizarre restrictions in place!

This series represents a tongue-in-cheek view of the international laws of lockdown.

1. Social distancing at all times

“When you get time to stay in, stay in. Maintain social distancing, even at night. Don’t come close to each other, no kissing, nothing. Keep a distance. Even in the middle of the night.”

– Bheki Cele, South African Minister of Police

2. Learn to cut your own hair

“There will be no social distancing at those hairdressers. The people will be in contact with each other. It is too risky to do so. The hairdresser can also give advice online.”

– Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South African Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

3. Warm weather

“There’s a theory that, in April, when it gets warm – historically, that has been able to kill the virus. [The coronavirus would weaken] when we get into April, in the warmer weather – that has a very negative effect on that, and that type of a virus.”

– Donald Trump, President of the United States of America

4. Cheers!

“I don’t drink but recently I’ve been saying that people should not only wash their hands with vodka but also poison the virus with it. You should drink the equivalent of 40-50 millilitres of rectified spirit daily. But not at work.”

– Alexander Lukashenko, President of
the Republic of Belarus

5. Alcohol and cigarettes were banned

The sale of tobacco products were banned for most of lockdown in South Africa.

The reason?

“When people zol, they put saliva on the paper, and then they share that zol [joint].”

– Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South African Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

6. Documents had to be filled out

In France, all people leaving their homes had to carry a signed form, or attestation,
explaining where they are headed and why. A different form was needed for each outing. Failure to produce one resulted in a fine.

7. No social visits

In the UK, lockdown laws prohibited having family over to visit. But, technically you could hire a family member as a handyman or cleaner.

“There’s a reason we’ve made those rules clear on cleaners and indeed childminders. It’s because an awful lot of people rely for their livelihoods on being cleaners. And of course they should be socially distanced while doing that work. That’s the purpose of the change – not to allow family members to meet.”

– Matt Hancock, UK Health Secretary

8. Gender wars

One of Panama’s measures to combat the spread of coronavirus involved the separation of the sexes. Women could leave their homes to buy necessities on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Men were allowed out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

9. #sexban

In the UK, no person may participate in a gathering which takes place in a public or private place indoors and consists of two or more persons, which lead to #sexban.

“What this is about is making sure we don’t have people staying away from home at night. It is fair to say the transmission risk of coronavirus is much lower in the open air than in internal space, but obviously we do not encourage people to do anything like that outside at this time or any other.”

– British junior housing minister Simon Clarke

10. No travelling

Provincial and international travel was banned. Although restrictions have eased and we are able to travel locally, it’s unclear when the borders will open for international travel.

11. No gatherings – of any kind

“No social gatherings, the 50 people are only for funerals. No taverns, weddings, no braais, nothing. No Shisanyama, no after- tears. This is a mission go save lives.”

– Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South African Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister

12. WFH

But, aside from the ridiculous laws and quotes, one simple message was echoed across the world: if you can work from home, work from home.

“Businesses will be encouraged to adopt a work-from-home strategy where possible. All staff who can work remotely must
be allowed to do so.”

– Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa

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