East Timor: President decrees seventh 30-day state of emergency

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

East Timor: President decrees seventh 30-day state of emergency

10:06 CAT | 28 Oct 2020

Photo: Presidência da República Democrática de Timor-Leste

The president of East Timor on Tuesday decreed the extension of the state of emergency due to Covid-19 for another 30 days, which runs until the end of 3 December, sources of the presidency told Lusa.

The decree, which will now be published in the state journal, was signed by Francisco Guterres Lú-Olo after the parliament approved, in the absence of the largest opposition party, the renewal of the state of emergency.

The National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), which contested the renewal of the state of emergency – for the seventh period of 30 days – was absent at the time of the vote.

The authorisation was finally approved with 42 votes in favour.

During the debate, the government reported on the measures it has taken to control the pandemic, which require maintaining restrictions on entries into the country.

Members of parliament referred to various aspects such as the need to speed up the payment of support to front-line officials and the implementation of economic support measures.

The government called for a renewal of the state of emergency given worrying developments in the epidemiological situation and the proliferation of recorded cases of Covid-19 contagion, both regionally and globally.

The executive stressed that it intends to prevent and neutralise the risks of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to protect people’s health and the response capacity of the national health system.

East Timor currently has one active case of Covid-19, with a total of 29 recovered since the beginning of the pandemic.

Currently, 309 people are quarantined in government facilities or hotels, and 156 in self-confinement.

Since the pandemic began, authorities have conducted almost 10,900 tests.

The signing of the decree was the last act of the head of state before starting an annual holiday period between Wednesday and 6 November.

Source: Lusa