The Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, announced this weekend a partial easing on the state of calamity currently in effect, while maintaining basic restrictions to prevent a third wave of the pandemic.

“The progress we have made in controlling the covid-19 pandemic is an achievement that results from the collective effort and sacrifice of Mozambicans, however, we must not yet let our guard down,” he said in a communication to the nation.

Nyusi stressed that “the experience of other countries” and the Mozambican experience over the months of January and February “show that this virus does not waver”.

“We need to collectively and at all costs avoid the start of a third wave of the pandemic in our country, the intensity of which may be more violent than in previous instances”, he stressed.

In the communication, the head of state announced the resumption of the national football championship, the Mozambola, but without an audience.

Cults, meetings and religious celebrations can also be resumed with the limitation of up to 30% of the venue’s capacity, but no more than 50 people in closed spaces and 100 in open spaces.

State events can accommodate up to 100 people or more in cases of an imperative and duly justified nature.

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Other types of events, meetings or conferences, properly substantiated and authorised by the Ministry of Justice, can accommodate up to 300 people.

Casinos, museums, theater, cinemas, auditoriums and other similar spaces can open and fill up to 40% of their capacity, as well as some gyms that can operate at a maximum of 15% of the capacity.

Bakeries, patisseries and convenience stores are open until 20:00 (8 pm) and shopping centers can be open until 18:00 (6 pm) on Sundays, holidays and days of tolerance (during working days they are open until 19:00 [7 pm]).

The curfew at 22:00 (10pm) remains in force in Maputo and provincial capitals, and is also extended to the towns of Manhiça, Chóqwe, Maxixe, Gondola, Moatize, Mocuba, Nacala, Montepuez and Massinga.

All measures take effect at midnight on Tuesday, April 27, for a period of 30 days.

To date, Mozambique has an accumulated total of 807 deaths and 69,665 cases of covid-19, of which 89% have been recovered and 40 have been hospitalized.

Source: Further Africa