Mumbai, Sep 2 (TIWN) The pandemic continues to affect state finances with first quarter revenue and expenditure numbers pointing out that a full economic recovery is still a long road ahead.

Altogether, the authorities spent about 2.2 percent of GDP to fight COVID in 2020, including:

• Health package of around Af 10.9 billion, of which Af 2.6 billion on building hospitals and provincial clinics;
• The social package of around Af 14.7 billion, of which Af 2 billion on the bread distribution program and Af 12.7 billion on the World Bank supported social distribution program
• Transfers to provinces to finance Covid-19 response of about Af 1.3 billion;
• Support to agriculture and short-term jobs of about Af 5.2 billion and Af 1.0 billion.

Similarly, the 2021 budget includes the following COVID-related spending:

• Health package of Af 2.4 billion;
• Social package of Af 8.9 billion;
• Other Af 3.3 billion.