The state of emergency in Angola to contain the spread of the covid-19 pandemic was declared on 27 March, for 15 days, first extended on 11 April and extended again from 26 April to 10 May.
In a declaration to the country released by the President's Civil House, João Lourenço appealed to his compatriots to maintain the preventive measures and observe the confinement regime, stressing that the definitive lifting of the state of emergency and the inherent restrictions will depend mainly on the form how such measures are carried out and on individual and collective behavior.
"Today, better than yesterday, we have the exact notion of how difficult it is to observe the confinement regime that we are forced by the threat of the new coronavirus, but we have no option but to accept sacrifices to preserve the greater good - life" , highlighted the President.
In the message, João Lourenço also stressed that the next 15-day period will bring "some relief measures in a large part of the national territory, opening the possibility of the gradual resumption of economic activity".
The chief executive recalled that 30 days have passed since he made the decision to declare a state of emergency "in the best interest of defending the health and life of Angolans", at a time when the country had only three cases of the disease, and stresses that it was the timely taking of public health measures that kept the risk of spreading the pandemic under control.
"It means that the path that we must continue to follow is found, as Angola's contribution to the global fight against the pandemic", he reinforced, adding that the advancement of covid-19 in the world teaches "that prevention remains the best and the most effective way of fighting the mortal danger "that the world faces.
João Lourenço ended by publicly acknowledging the commitment of health professionals, doctors, nurses, technicians and specialists, police, military, businessmen, religious leaders, journalists and civil society figures, who have been engaged in the common struggle against covid-19 and urged citizens to be responsible and do "their part".
The head of state's pleas are to encourage citizens to stay at home, wash their hands frequently, maintain the recommended distance and wear a mask in environments such as public transport and markets.
Angola has 25 confirmed cases of covid-19 and two deaths.
The death toll from covid-19 in Africa has risen to 1,298 in the past few hours, with 27,427 reported cases of the disease in 52 countries, according to the latest pandemic statistics on that continent.
Globally, according to an AFP report, the covid-19 pandemic has already caused some 200,000 deaths and infected more than 2.7 million people in 193 countries and territories. More than 720,000 patients were considered cured.
