The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Veronica Macamo, called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Monday to place "maximum vigilance" against covid-19, describing the disease as "an extraordinary enemy"..

Macamo was speaking as chairman of the SADC Council of Ministers, during the extraordinary session of the body, which met by virtual means to analyze the covid-19 situation in the region.

"I would like to urge all member states to strengthen the measures of maximum vigilance and caution, as well as to redouble efforts to prevent, contain and track the pandemic," said the head of Mozambican diplomacy quoted by Lusa.

The new coronavirus, he continued, is "an extraordinary enemy" that requires effective countermeasures to prevent it from continuing to hold back the social and economic development of the SADC states and in general.

Verónica Macamo expressed appreciation to the health personnel for their commitment and dedication in the fight to contain and win the "battle" caused by covid-19.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation pointed out that the pandemic has conditioned the development of SADC's activities, advocating effective actions to fulfill the organization's calendar of events in the current health situation.

"This exercise is of great relevance in view of the approaching 41st SADC Summit, which will take place in the Republic of Malawi later this month," he said.

The covid-19 pandemic, he continued, requires prudent consideration of how best to keep institutions operational while respecting ongoing restrictive measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus and protecting human lives.

The SADC states are living in the midst of the third wave of the covid-19 pandemic, with a further increase in the number of deaths, hospitalizations and infections, driven by the prevalence of the Delta variant.