Many South Africans spent their Monday morning lining up outside liquor stores, as alcohol sales were allowed again after a two-month ban because of the coronavirus outbreak.

But while South Africa — with the continent’s most developed economy and the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 — relaxed its strict lockdown, the reopening of most school classes was delayed and there was debate about how churches could safely resume services.

Places of worship were allowed to open from Monday with limits on the number of people in congregations, yet many religious groups said they would refuse the opportunity.

In the poor township of Macassar, near Cape Town, people left home at 4.30 a.m., residents said, to secure places in lines at liquor stores.

“Evidence of cluster spread in other parts of the world suggests that even in places of worship where strict social distancing rules were upheld there were reports of infection,” the Jesuit Institute said.