The use of covid-19 protective masks is no longer mandatory in open spaces, as a result of the reduction of covid-19 cases in the country, informed, today, the President of the Republic (PR), Filipe Nyusi.

The PR advised the continued use of that face protection in places "where the recommended distance is not possible," and is also mandatory in enclosed spaces, such as public transportation, where, however, children up to 11 years old are not required to wear masks.

Nyusi was speaking earlier this afternoon during an address to the nation that marked the end of the "situation of public calamity" in Mozambique.

The Head of State warned that although new measures have been adopted, it by no means means means that the pandemic is over, in the country. "We didn't say stop washing your hands or adopt other prevention measures, which end up being a gain."

Among other measures, foreign travelers wanting to enter Mozambique, except those under 11 years old, must present a vaccination certificate or a PCR test with a negative result done within the last 72 hours.

Revealed Nyusi, that the low numbers of infection that the country has been registering result from the fulfillment, almost in its entirety (90%), of the established vaccination goal (16 million people), which puts Mozambique among those with the highest success rates in this process, on the continent.

Mozambique had been living under a State of Public Calamity since September 2020, with various restrictions, including a nighttime curfew, which was in effect until February of this year.

Since the announcement of the first case in March 2020, the country has a cumulative total of 2,201 deaths and 225,338 covid-19 cases, according to the latest updates from the Ministry of Health.