Adão de Almeida, who was updating the measures of the state of public calamity, which will be in force between 1 and 28 February, said that the changes are justified by the "positive evolution of the situation", coming out of a period of substantial growth in contagion, in the months of December and January.
"Fortunately, the restrictive measures applied then began to take effect, a situation that leads the executive to proceed with an update in the sense of a general relaxation of these measures", he stressed.
The head of the Civil House of the President of the Republic stressed that the decree strikes a balance between "greater individual responsibility in complying with these measures as a means of balance and greater openness to the exercise of activities".
"Otherwise, in the near future, if we do not observe a set of rules at the individual level, we will witness new growth and this will lead to the need to adopt new restrictive measures", he stressed.
Among the main changes, Adão de Almeida highlighted the continuity of the mandatory use of a face mask on public roads and in public spaces and in all closed places where there is the coexistence of people who are not of the same family, with the imposition of a fine being foreseen. between 15,000 kwanzas to 20,000 kwanzas.
The presentation of the vaccination certificate remains mandatory for all individuals over 18 years of age, a condition for access to a set of public and private services, including participation in public tenders, foreign and interprovincial travel, among others.
Those who are not vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated must present an antigen test with a negative result, performed 48 hours before, vaccination being recommended for all minors between 12 and 17 years old.
Regarding borders, their formal closure continues, with the possibility of entering and leaving the national territory in certain circumstances, now with the particularity of the phased opening of land borders with countries such as Namibia, Zambia, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, subject to negotiation with these States.
According to Adão de Almeida, the decree extends face-to-face work to 75 percent of the workforce, with the entire workforce being allowed for private services, with the extension of service operating hours in accordance with the nature of the work activity.
For restaurants and the like, operation extends until midnight every day, with 75 percent of the space's capacity being occupied and recreational activities allowed inside.
The same opening hours will also be observed for cinemas, theatres, while casinos and gambling houses will be able to operate until 5:00 am the following day, the same being applicable to music shows and the operation of nightclubs, namely discotheques and similar, party rooms, with a 50% space limitation.
In the case of nightclubs, Adão de Almeida highlighted that this is the first time that this change has been experienced, after two years of closure, when the state of emergency was declared.
"In the field of competitions and federated sports training, with regard to public attendance, a presence of up to 50 percent of the capacity of the sports venue is now authorized and the presentation of the vaccination certificate is also mandatory", said the Angolan official. , stressing that individual sports practice in public spaces will be carried out between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm.
In turn, the Minister of State and head of the Military House of the President of the Republic, Francisco Furtado, said that the pandemic situation is under control, but continues to inspire care.
"The measures to prevent and control covid-19 adopted by the Angolan executive remain effective for reducing the transmission of the SARS-COV-2 virus and its variants, namely the use of a face mask, physical distancing, hand hygiene, mandatory presentation of the vaccination certificate or negative Covid SARS-COV-2 test for access to public and private services, among others", he stressed.
Covid-19: country eases prevention measures but keeps beaches and swimming pools banned
Angola has relaxed measures to prevent and combat covid-19, but maintain access to beaches and public swimming pools, announced the Minister of State and head of the Civil House of the President of the Republic.
