Academics have warned suspended rights during the lockdown period should not become a new norm while the government does not have a post-Covid-19 plan to rescue both the economy and address the social impacts of Covid-19.

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Not addressing these issues - including the physical and mental illnesses that could arise from Covid-19 and the lockdown as well as the perceived rise in gender-based violence and stigma - could lead to other consequences in the future, Gumede said.

The lockdown had had detrimental social and economic impacts on the country and a plan should be made to mitigate these consequences, Gumede said.

"So far, we haven't seen any of that from government, we haven't seen any blueprints or plans which are evidence based on what to do with the economy and the social impact, whether it's mental illnesses or other kinds of illnesses [and] the rise that we will get," he added.

While more people know their rights today - a safeguard in a democracy - Cooper warned against prolonged regulations becoming the new norm.