Poor Countries Weigh Easing Lockdowns as Coronavirus Cases Continue to Rise

“We looked into all the scenarios, including total lockdown, but to be honest we can’t afford it,” Egyptian Information Minister Osama Heikal said in a television interview last week. Pakistan’s top court last week ordered all stores to be allowed to open, including shopping malls in Karachi, arguing that the government was focusing too much on stopping the spread of the pandemic. While leaders in wealthier countries face similar trade-offs, the dilemma for leaders in developing countries is especially stark: Each week that the reopening is postponed creates more poverty, increasing chances of social unrest and violence. But reopening too soon may cause new outbreaks.