Covid-19 case on South African side forced temporary closure of Ressano Garcia

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Covid-19 case on South African side forced temporary closure of Ressano Garcia

3:42 CAT | 14 Dec 2020

Photo: O País

The border at Ressano Garcia was temporarily closed this morning after one of the employees on the South African side [Lebombo border] tested positive for Covid-19, but reopened at around 10:00 a.m. after disinfection.

Long lines of trucks loaded with various products as well as passenger transporter vehicles built up. People, in vehicles and on foot, saw their patience tested as decontamination was carried out.

“All areas suspected of being potentially infected had to be decontaminated. Because of that, there was a temporary suspension of activities,” confirmed Pedro Pene, head of the Ressano Garcia border post.

The temporary closure inconvenienced many of the approximately 4,000 users who use the border crossing daily.

“People cross for a variety of reasons. Some have consultations; others have urgent agendas. But this is the reality, none other than preserving the health of the majority rather than leaving infected places that do not meet conditions for the safety of users,” Pene said.

Among those who were stranded at Ressano Garcia was Anilda Manjate, who left Johannesburg with her family at night and said that, by 7:00 a.m., they expected to be on home soil.

“We arrived at the border around 5:00 a.m., expecting a normal queue – for the festive season – but around 7:00 a.m. were told that the border on the South African side was closed because someone had tested positive for Covid-19,” she said.

Lack of information, and the fear that food products would go to waste in the long wait was a cause of anxiety.

“At this time, when Mozambicans return to Mozambique they bring food with them and there are those who are afraid that something will rot. It is different from some, like us, who just went there for a walk. Even so, we are all desperate,” said Anilda Manjate.

Mozambican authorities however say that the Ressano Garcia border post was back to normal operation soon after 10:00 a.m..

By Dario Cossa

Source: O País