Valdemar José expressed this Tuesday in Luanda a "concern of awareness, due to the conduct of citizens in the new extension of the state of emergency", pointing out that "it is as if we are not facing a state of emergency".
Angola declared a third period of state of emergency due to the covid-19 pandemic for a further 15 days, from 00.00 hours on 26 April until 23.59 hours on 10 May.
"We run the risk of all the work going down the drain," he warned that the "relief" provided for in the rules of the new presidential decree, was taken on the assumption of economic recovery, "and not for everyone to move on.
"If there is no such awareness, the results could be disastrous," the sub-commissioner stressed, recalling that a case of local transmission of infection by the new coronavirus has already been recorded and "there is some probability" of community cases occurring.
"If we don't adopt social distancing and stay at home, we will take lives", he insisted, pointing out the risks of collapse of the health system as it happened in Europe and the United States, which will only be avoided if preventive measures are adopted.
In view of the behaviour of citizens on Monday and Tuesday, Valdemar José stressed that there will also be an "adjustment in the procedures" of the authorities: "do not be surprised by the measures of the defence and security forces that will be adopted in the coming days".
Among the acts of disobedience pointed out the operation of markets, even on days of closure, opening of gymnasiums and practice of collective sports, holding religious cults and citizens trying to cross the sanitary fence that remains in Luanda
"Our aim is not to adopt coercive measures, we will only do so if the citizen does not adopt this communication as being to comply", he stressed, regretting that due to the challenge to the authorities the cells are being "filled with people on the basis of civil disobedience".
The MININT spokesman called on citizens "to adopt a different stance from tomorrow [Wednesday]", reiterating that the security forces will adopt measures to defend a greater good "that is life".
The country has already registered 27 cases of covid-19, two of which resulted in deaths and six recovered patients, with health authorities announcing on Monday the first case of local contagion.
