South Africa on Friday began easing restrictions put in place to help curb the spread of COVID-19, allowing some businesses to resume limited operations.

The country has been under one of the world's strictest lockdowns for five weeks as the disease spread across the globe.

South Africa is the most affected of 52 countries in Africa that have recorded cases of COVID-19, having registered 5,350 infections and 103 deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

After five weeks in lockdown, South Africans began venturing outside on Friday as the government began easing restrictions.

Initially banned activities like jogging, cycling and dog-walking have now been allowed to resume, though a nighttime curfew remains in place. People who engage in physical exercises will however be limited to doing so only a few miles from their homes.

Some industries have also been allowed to go back to work with strict adherence to set guidelines.

Restaurants and fast food businesses have been given the green light to resume operations, but only through deliveries.

Public transport, including buses, can operate with restricted numbers of passengers. But the ban on domestic and international travel remains.

The sale of alcohol and cigarettes remains prohibited as health officials warn that smoking might exacerbate respiratory problems experienced with COVID-19.

South Africa has conducted more than 200,000 coronavirus tests. Officials say they will watch for areas of high concentrations of cases where they will implement targeted isolation measures.