More than 10,000 people have died from coronavirus in South Africa since the pandemic arrived in the country in March, the health ministry has said.

The country has registered 553,188 infections – the fifth biggest number of Covid-19 cases in the world.

The second order would ensure renters and homeowners can avoid eviction throughout the pandemic. His third order would expand unemployment benefits after additional relief funds for Americans who lost work during the pandemic expired. The order would provide $400 a week in addition to state unemployment benefits.

The president claimed Democrats “have refused” to accept Republican-led stimulus packages, and that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have held the proposals “hostage” — despite Congress passing the sweeping HEROES Act in May, which provides billions in relief funds.

Describing the incident, a bar manager told De Standaard: “There was suddenly massive fighting and total chaos broke out.

“Sun umbrellas and sunbeds flew, windsurfing poles were used as weapons.”

In the upmarket shops around the square, all the windows had been crushed by last week’s explosion. The sound of crunching glass could be heard between the chants of “revolution”.

“If one of those politicians comes down here, they’ll tear them apart,” said Colette Hamze, 74, who was sitting in the shade of a medical tent wearing black Chanel espadrilles. “But violence isn’t the answer. It’s too simple for them. We want honest leaders who don’t steal from us.”

Dominican television station Canal de Noticias even said the country was ‘carrying out preparations for his arrival’.

However the Republic soon denied that the ex-king had entered the country. The foreign ministry told AFP it had ‘no information’ about Juan Carlos spending time there.