Mozambique: Good Friday is day off, group religious worship banned – government

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Good Friday is day off, group religious worship banned – government

12:35 CAT | 09 Apr 2020

Nampula cathedral,[File photo: Noticias]

Mozambique’s minister of labour and social security, Margarida Talapa, on Thursday decreed a day off for tomorrow (Good Friday), but maintained the ban on collective worship, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a communique, the minister said that the optional day off is for workers and employees from all over the country who profess the Christian religion, except those who work in essential sectors.

In compliance with the social isolation measures in force in the country, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the optional day off requires that religious services at Easter be an individual or at home.

Mozambique officially registers 17 cases of infection by the new coronavirus, but there is still no record of deaths from the disease in the country, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the government announced that the wearing of masks on transport and in crowds of people will become compulsory, measures aimed at preventing the spread of the new coronavirus in the country.

In addition to the use of masks on public and private transport, the decree suspends the ban on taxi services by motorcycles and bicycles, after several protests from operators, mainly in the central and northern provinces of the country.

Under the new measures, taxi services for motorcycles and bicycles can operate, but with the use of masks by the occupants.

The country is in a state of emergency throughout the month of April, with entertainment and leisure areas closed, and all kinds of events and crowds are prohibited.

During the same period, schools are closed and the issuing of visas to enter the country is suspended.

The number of deaths in Africa has exceeded 500 in a universe of more than 10,500 cases registered in 52 countries, according to the most recent update of pandemic data on the continent.

Source: Lusa