The African continent was affected by the pandemic at a rather late stage. In South Africa, the curve rose very slowly, with the first case of COVID-19 confirmed on March 5, 2020. Further cases were followed by a prompt reaction from the government of President Cyril Ramaphosa: beaches, parks, schools, and playgrounds were closed by mid-March. The infections, which initially affected European travelers, are now spreading rapidly throughout the country, especially in poorer areas where people have little access to health care. South Africa is the most affected country on the continent. It is also one of the countries with the largest gap between rich and poor in the world. The virus makes this even more visible.