Mozambique: Nyusi announces relaxation of some Covid-19 measures – AIM report

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Mozambique: Nyusi announces relaxation of some Covid-19 measures – AIM report

6:42 CAT | 26 Apr 2021

Photo: TVM

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, in a televised address to the nation on Sunday night, announced a relaxation of several of the restrictive measures imposed by the government to limit the spread of the Covid-19 respiratory disease.

Nyusi’s announcement came two days after the National Health Institute (INS) had declared the second wave of coronavirus infection in Mozambique to be over. Key indicators have been improving throughout April, with a sharp decline in the number of new cases of the disease, of hospitalisations and of deaths.

Thus, as from 27 April, many cultural, religious and sporting activities will be allowed to reopen. Nyusi declared that all theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries, cultural centres and the like may reopen but with limitations on the number of people who can visit at any one time. None of these institutions may exceed 40 per cent of their capacity. The government has imposed the same limit on casinos.

Gymnasiums may reopen with an upper limit of 30 or 15 per cent of their capacity, depending on their classification. Swimming pools in hotels may reopen, but for the exclusive use of guests.

Churches and other religious institutions may reopen, but attendance will be limited to 30 per cent of their capacity, so long as this does not exceed a ceiling of 50 people in closed spaces, and 100 people in the open air.

For State events, attendance should not exceed 100, except under “imperative and duly justified circumstances”.

Also under exceptional circumstances, conferences and other large meetings may be authorized, as long as attendance does not exceed 300 people.

The national football championship, Mocambola, may resume – but without the presence of any fans. The players in all the teams participating in Mocambola must be tested regularly for Covid-19.

In one area, that of curfews, the restrictions are not relaxed, but extended. So far a curfew has been in force from 22.00 to 04.00 in the Greater Maputo Metropolitan Area and all provincial capitals. As from Tuesday the curfew will extend to several smaller cities and towns – namely Manhica (Maputo province), Chokwe (Gaza), Maxixe and Massinga (Inhambane), Gondola (Manica), Moatize (Tete), Nacala (Nampula), Mocuba (Zambezia) and Montepuez (Cabo Delgado).

“Although we have made important progress”, said Nyusi, “some aspects still cause us concern” – including the positivity rate among people tested in urban centres in Zambezia, Nampula and Niassa, which was over 10 per cent compared with an average positivity rate of about six per cent in the country as a whole.

Nonetheless, it was encouraging that the occupation rate of intensive care beds had fallen to three per cent, and that there had been no spike in Covid-19 cases following either the reopening of schools to face-to-face teaching, or the influx of visitors from South Africa over the Easter holiday.

Nyusi insisted that the basic preventive measures must remain in place, including regular washing of hands, social distancing, and the wearing of masks in public places.

Uncertainty about how long the pandemic will last, he said posed challenges as to the balance between the reopening of economic activities and the protection of public health.

“The transition to the new normal must be cautious, resting on the principles of gradualism and reversibility”, said the President.

The measures announced by Nyusi will be in force for 30 days.

Source: AIM