How Covid-19 counter-measures are still far from being met in Maputo city – O País

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How Covid-19 counter-measures are still far from being met in Maputo city – O País

4:54 CAT | 08 Feb 2021

Photo: O País

The owners of some commercial and catering establishments are still not complying with the measures provided for in the latest Council of Ministers decree to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Some have acknowledged that the rules set out in the document have not yet been implemented.

Saturday was Day Two of Decree 2/2021 of 4 February, which revised measures to contain the spread of the pandemic of Covid-19 in the context of the Public Disaster Situation. Paragraph number4 of article 20 establishes that “in places of public attendance, the definition of the maximum capacity and its respective display in clearly visible places of the institution is mandatory, and the managers of these institutions are responsible for compliance”.

However, few to none of the commercial establishments in downtown Maputo had posted information regarding the maximum capacity of their establishment, a festival of irregularities bad enough to prompt calls the heavens in protest. The manager of one such store tried to obstruct the work of ‘O País’, even pretending to close the doors of his store.

At one butcher’s shop, where customers were lined up outside, the manager claimed that he was unaware of the imposition of the decree. “I do not have this information,” the owner said, adding that he would inform himself as soon as possible in order to comply with what the authorities recommend for the effective prevention of Covid-19.

Carlos Cuna works in one of the supermarkets in the country’s capital. Because the information regarding the maximum capacity of people in his establishment has not yet been indicated by the government, he simply limits the number of customers and counts those who enter and leave.

Maputo clothing stores are devoid of any means of preventing and combating Covid-19. The buckets that should contain water for hand washing are empty, there are no thermometers for measuring body temperature, customers do not disinfect their hands at the entrance due to a lack of product for this purpose and crowds of people inside stores are commonplace.

Supermarkets such as Shoprite and Grupo Mica, despite having posting the new [extended] opening hours, have not done the same in relation to maximum capacity, to the consternation of customers.

In the restaurant sector, the same situation exists. Linda Argiropulos, manager of South Beach, acknowledged to ‘O País’ that information about the maximum capacity of her establishment was not yet in her possession, but promised to correct the oversight.

Lurdes Fernandes, manager of the Sagres restaurant, also recognised the importance of the information required by the authorities, but claimed that, in the current context, the restaurant was unable to find as many as 10 customers, let alone 20.

Our interviewees also claimed that they needed better information from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in order to interpret Decree 2/2021 of 4 February.

By Amandio Borges

Source: O País