"There are 463 travelers who are in quarantine," he said, adding that they are asymptomatic, that is, they have no symptoms of covid-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Sílvia Lutucuta also spoke about the problems faced by passengers who returned on the 20th of Lisbon and Porto and were placed in institutional quarantine, assuming that "there were initially some problems with the logistics of the accommodation of these travelers, but they have already been overcome".
The minister said that this group of people came from "a country at risk" (Portugal) so it was decided that the most appropriate measure was institutional quarantine.
"Initially, in this group of passengers we had 60 who did not have these conditions, there were no beds for everyone," he said.
As he explained, there was "unavailability" of the IU hotel chain for the disposal of their spaces, contrary to what had been initially foreseen, in the meantime "an effort was made to find the right conditions for the installation of these travelers".
Affirming that "no country can say that it is 100 percent prepared", the official also asked for more "sensitivity" to the private sector in face of the emergency caused by the pandemic of covid-19.
Sílvia Lutucuta also said that some of the passengers who returned to Angola last week and had been placed in home quarantine were not fulfilling the isolation they were required to.
"Our biggest challenge in relation to quarantines was the home quarantine because people have not yet understood, although we have informed in all ways, some have not complied, have not yet realized that they are putting themselves, their families and at risk others around him ", he criticized, adding that complaints were received and people are being taken to institutional quarantine to minimize the risk.
The minister also said that 21 fans were purchased and the technicians will have the appropriate training to handle serious cases that may arise, and all reference units that have their own fans will also be mobilized.
He also warned of the need to "face this epidemic with discernment and a spirit of unity", without stigmatizing people who have returned from countries at risk, many of whom are Angolans.
"We had to receive our citizens and we have to work to avoid the impact of the disease on our country from a social and economic point of view", he stressed
Asked about the beating of a Portuguese citizen in Bié for allegedly having the disease, the minister condemned this type of attitude, stressing that the people involved "will be severely punished".
The minister also recommended compliance with the prevention rules, namely avoiding crowds with more than 50 people, not making unnecessary visits and frequently washing hands with soap and water.
As for the contingency plan adopted by Angola, where there are already three confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus, it may come to provide for other measures, according to the evolution of the disease.
The new coronavirus, responsible for the covid-19 pandemic, has already infected more than 341,000 people worldwide, of whom more than 15,100 have died.
After appearing in China in December, the outbreak spread across the world, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic situation.
The African continent recorded more than 50 deaths due to the new coronavirus, exceeding 1,700 cases in 45 countries and territories, according to the latest statistics on the covid-19 pandemic.
