In a message posted on Facebook, Brazil's ambassador to Angola, Paulino Neto, announces that the Brazilian government, in conjunction with its diplomatic representations in Luanda, Maputo (Mozambique) and Windhoek (Namibia), has managed to "make it possible to charter flights" to repatriate tourists and temporary visitors detained in these countries due to the suspension of international flights.
The Itamaraty charter flight to Angola is scheduled to depart for Friday at 1pm, Luanda International Airport, bound for São Paulo (Guarulhos).
The list of passengers on the flight has been drawn up on the basis of the following priority criteria: Brazilians in a tourist/visitor situation in Angola, in a precarious migratory situation (without a valid work visa or expiring in the short term), belonging to groups at risk for covid-19 (diabetes, heart disease, age over 60, etc.), pregnant women up to the sixth month or mothers with newborns up to 45 days old, Brazilians without financial resources and foreigners residing in Brazil and with first-degree Brazilian relatives.
Angola closed its air, sea and land borders to try to contain the spread of the covid-19 pandemic on 20 March and is in the second phase of the state of emergency declared on 27 March, for 15 days, and extended for the same period until 25 April.
The country has so far registered 25 cases of infection with the new coronavirus, two of which have resulted in death.
Globally, according to an AFP balance sheet, the covid-19 pandemic has already claimed over 181 000 lives and infected more than 2.6 million people in 193 countries and territories.
More than 593,500 patients have been considered cured.
