Table 2 The four-stage major measures taken for COVID-19 in India and South Africa

Stage 1: Prevention and control of import cases

1 Immigration Control Measures:

(1) On Jan 25, 2020, issued a travel warning that avoiding unessential travel to China.

(2) On Feb 2, stopped the electronic visa service for Chinese; On 13 Mar, all travel visas for foreigners became temporarily invalid except special visa categories.

(3) Closed the border and banned international flights.

(4) Passengers from severely affected countries would be under quarantine for 14 days.

2 Guaranteeing epidemic prevention materials:

(1) Since Jan 31, the export of personal protective equipment including masks and protective clothing was banned during the epidemic.

(2) Banned the export of 26 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their medicines.

1 Border control measures:

(1) Closed country borders; Cross-provincial travel is prohibited.

(2) Closed 35 land ports and 2 waterways; Strengthened airport monitoring measures.

(3) Suspended visa issuance to visitors from high-risk countries such as China and Italy and foreigners who have visited these countries in the past 20 days.

(4) Installed temperature monitoring equipment at all ports; designated 13 public hospitals across the country to treat COVID-19 patients and provided free treatment.

2 On Mar 15, 2020, South Africa entered into a state of national disaster and started a crisis management mechanism.

Stage 2: spreading stage of COVID-19

1 Implement a five-stage blockade: Lockdown-1 imposed a nationwide strict lockdown and isolation for 21 days; closed all shops, factories, and so on; Suspended all unessential activities. Lockdown-2 divided hotpots and non-hotpots region, which relaxed restrictions, allowed some necessary activities, and gradually resumed work and production. Lockdown-3 divided three zones: red zones were under strict control, orange zones implemented strict residence rules and green zones allowed more free travel. Lockdown-4 imposed curfews and banned going outside except for necessary needs. Lockdown-5 shortened curfews and continued lockdown-4 policy is strictly policed areas, while non-strictly policed areas allowed free movement within the areas, and opened commercial centers.

2 Community prevention and control measures:

(1) On Mar 22, imposed a curfew calling on all Indians to stay indoors between 7 and 21.

(2) Several states, including New Delhi and Mumbai, made it mandatory to wear masks or be arrested and jailed for at least six months.

(3) The government advised Work From Home Policy and pay wages as usual.

3 Guaranteed isolation and treatment sites, and strengthened testing:

(1) Retrofitted about 20,000 train carriages for COVID-19 patients’ isolation; Set up nearly 60,000 isolation beds.

(2) On Jun 27, built a square cabin hospital in the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre and closed on Sep 4.

(3) Enhanced nucleic acid testing in New Delhi.

1 Strictly enforce the blockade order:

(1) At midnight on Mar 26, South Africa began a 21-day “lockdown”, and the lockdown level was set as Level 5, the strictest, closed all government offices, businesses, restaurants, and shops, except for public services such as hospitals and pharmacies.

(2) Banned all social activities; only allowed people to go out to buy food, medicine, and take medical treatment.

(3) Banned sales of alcohol and tobacco; Imposed daily curfew.

2 Implement single room policy: 5,571 isolation sites were set up to provide temporary shelters for the homeless and free self-isolation places for those who cannot self-isolate in their homes.

3 Fighting corruption in COVID-19: The President set up a special commission of inquiry to investigate corruption in the procurement of supplies for the COVID-19 epidemic.

4 Enhance virus detection capability:

(1) Public laboratories were working with private laboratories to test for coronavirus.

(2) Promoted community detection: Organized medical workers and mobile surveillance vehicles into communities to conduct coronavirus test census, and collected samples of suspected patients.

(3) Established community contact tracing teams to track and monitor confirmed patients and close contacts.

Stage 3: Restarting economic and social activities

1 Removing restrictions in stages: In Jun, Unlock-1 opened places of worship, hotels, restaurants, shopping centers all across India and changed curfew time from 21 to 5, while freed cross-border traffic between states. In Jul, Unlock-2 reduced daily curfew by one hour reopened some routes and later resumed some international air travel. In Aug, Unlock-3 opened more activities outside the quarantine zone, while lifting the personal curfew. In Sep, to restore economy Unlock-4 allowed a limited opening of some public facilities, such as subways, shopping malls, and entertainment venues. In Oct, cinema, theatre, and so on were reopened, except the controlled areas, but the number of customers was limited to 50 percent of the authorized capacity; Schools, parks and other places were opened to the public.

2 Economic stimulus policies:

(1) Introduced the slogan “India self-made” and launched an economic stimulus package about 20 trillion rupees.

(2) Three rounds of economic stimulus: The first round of 20.97 lakh crore, focusing on basic livelihood assistance; The second round focused on stimulating consumption; The third round focused on supporting industries hardest hit by the epidemic, such as tourism and catering.

1 Lower blockade level:

(1) From Apr 23, gradually relaxed the level of lockdown order and allowed enterprises to resume work.

2 Relaxed community prevention and control measures:

(1) Gradually opened Borders, resumed international travel, relaxed restrictions on public outings and social activities, and allowed most businesses to operate.

(2) Relaxed restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco; shortened curfews.

2 Launched economic support policies to restore the economy and stabilize employment:

(1) Building a new economy: mobilized public and private resources and undertook massive infrastructure development and maintenance to drive economic recovery.

(2) Launched a 500 billion Rand economic support and social relief program.

3 Adjusted the priorities of government work: implement "risk adjustment strategy", enhanced dynamic early warning and epidemic containment measures; Went deep into communities to ensure basic living conditions of residents; Provided support to affected businesses and workers.

Stage 4: COVID-19 second outbreak

1 Public health measures:

(1) Mumbai decreed that if there are five or more confirmed cases in a residential building, the entire building and residents will be sealed off.

(2) Mass celebrations were banned during the traditional holiday of Holi.

(3) New Delhi imposed a daily curfew from 22 to 5. During the curfew, only allowed shops providing essential services and vehicles used for emergency matters.

2 Vaccination measures:

(1) On Jan 3, 2021, the emergency use of vaccines was officially approved; Launched vaccination campaign, giving priority to nurses, doctors and other frontline workers.

(2) On Mar 25, delayed in Mar and Apr delivery of COVAX, and restricted vaccine exports.

1 Resumed strict community prevention and control measures:

(1) Closed borders with neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Mozambique.

(2) Extended curfews; Asked People to wear masks outside or risk prosecution; Postponed the start of school.

(3) Banned on the sale of all alcoholic beverages.

2 Vaccination measures:

(1) Implemented a phased vaccine promotion policy: the first phase target medical workers; The second phase is for workers in basic jobs to keep society running, people over 60, with basic medical conditions or in nursing homes; The remaining adults are the target for Phase 3.

(2) In the second phase of vaccination, nationwide the number of vaccination sites increased from 53 to 2,000 by collaborating with private medical institutions.