Knowing that 36 positive cases have already been confirmed in the country, nine of which are locally transmitted, the Council of the Republic was concerned about the risk of the disease evolving to a situation of community contagion, meaning that it will be impossible to trace the origin of all transmission chains.
After this opinion, the President of the Republic must now send to the National Assembly the proposal for a new extension of the state of emergency. After meeting in a plenary session, parliament will rule on the matter.
In the communiqué made available at the end of the meeting, the Council of the Republic expressed consensus regarding this decision - "without substantial division of opinions" - advising that this exceptional state in force since 27 March be maintained.
The councilors also praised the measures hitherto decided by the head of state in the face of this pandemic scenario, but asked, however, for more attention to the difficulties that restrictive measures are posing to many families, calling for "a situation of balance between confinement and hunger "and the improvement of the water distribution capacity to the populations.
If confirmed by the National Assembly, this will be the fourth period of state of emergency in the country. As in previous extensions, a gradual decrease in the severity of the measures is expected until the situation is under control.
João Lourenço's advisers include personalities who lead state, court and parliament bodies. The Council of the Republic also constitutes leaders of political parties with parliamentary seats and individuals from civil society.
