LILONGWE — It's shortly before 9pm and sex worker Yvonne is perched on a barricade as lively groups of bar-goers linger on a township street in Malawi's capital Lilongwe, pushed out of pubs early by a coronavirus curfew.

In a tight-fitting red dress, golden dreadlocks reflecting her skin-tone, she sipped a can of soda as her bright eyes darted around for potential customers.