The President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, signed a decree on Friday updating the rules for the administrative management of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, taking into account the relative increase in the number of positive cases in recent times. The measures came into force at midnight on Saturday.

According to a press release from the Presidential Palace, to which Angop has had access, the update comes in order to avoid the spread of the disease and a return to previous crisis scenarios.

According to the note, with regard to border health controls, the law stipulates that exits from national territory are dependent on the presentation of a vaccination certificate attesting to complete immunization, without prejudice to additional formalities required by the country of destination.

It also stipulates that entry into national territory is dependent on the presentation of a vaccination certificate attesting to full immunization or, alternatively, the presentation of a negative RT-PCR test for the SARS-COV 2 virus, carried out within 48 hours prior to travel.

Exceptions to these measures are minors up to the age of 12, who are exempt from presenting a vaccination certificate or test when entering or leaving the country.

The decree signed on Friday by Angolan President João Lourenço establishes as a health containment measure the compulsory use of face masks in health units and pharmacies or similar services, with their use being optional in other places of public access.

The document also states that while the pandemic situation and the risk of mass contagion persist, the ministerial departments are delegated the power to establish administrative rules and measures for health surveillance and control that prove useful and proportionate to mitigating the risk, under the terms of the International Health Regulations and the National Health Regulations.

Source: Angop