Mozambique to perform Covid-19 tests in five more provinces from June

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Mozambique to perform Covid-19 tests in five more provinces from June

2:56 CAT | 28 May 2020

File photo: Lusa

Minister of Health Armindo Tiago announced on Wednesday (May 27) that, with more reagents expected to be available in the country soon, Mozambique would from next month start testing for Covid-19 in five more provinces.

Minister Tiago referred to the expansion of the Covid-19 testing capacity when addressing the Assembly of the Republic (AR) about the country’s capacity to fight the coronavirus pandemic yesterday.

“Next month, with the arrival of reagents for the ‘GeneXpert’ and ‘Abbot’ machines, Covid-19 testing is expected to begin in Sofala, Zambézia, Tete, Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces,” Minister Tiago said.

Currently, Mozambique only performs Covid-19 tests in the province and city of Maputo. The government would gradually create conditions to ensure that Covid-19 tests are performed in the remaining provinces also, the health minister added.

Minister Tiago noted that all ten Mozambican provinces have ‘GeneXpert’ equipment, which can be used to diagnose Covid-19, but the biggest constraint is the global shortage of reagents.

The Minister of Health pointed out that the country had reported , until the 26th of this month, 213 cases of Covid-19, of which 187 were transmitted locally and 26 imported. Of that number, 71 were reported to have fully recovered, and one death caused by the new coronavirus reported

The authorities had screened 774,503 passengers at the main points of entry into the country, of whom 15,303 were quarantined, with 1,481 still under restriction.

“We recognise that, although on an upward trend, cases of Covid-19 in Mozambique remain relatively low compared to other countries in the Southern African Development Community [SADC],” the Mozambican Minister of Health commented.

Mozambique has been in a state of emergency since April 1st and until the end of May, with The country has been in a state of emergency since April 1st, with amusement and leisure facilities closed, all types of events and meetings prohibited, and the public recommended to stay at home unless they have compelling reasons to go out, such as work or essential errands.

Capacity on public transport is limited and the use of masks mandatory. Schools are closed and the issuing of entry visas has been suspended.

Source: Lusa