The Mozambican government on Tuesday approved an exceptional regime for direct contracting of equipment manufacturers and procurement of health products, a measure aimed at facilitating the process in view of the increase of covid-19 cases in the country.

"The decree establishes the legal regime for exceptional direct contracting of manufacturers of goods and service providers, as a way to combat and mitigate the impacts of covid-19," said Filimão Sauze, spokesman for Mozambique's Council of Ministers.

He was speaking to the media moments after the 26th ordinary session of the Council of Ministers at the Presidency of the Republic, in Maputo.

According to the source, the decree will facilitate the procurement process for health care supplies, as well as hospital and "other comparable" equipment.

The measure aims to "meet the needs arising from the public calamity situation during its duration," stressed the government spokesman.

Mozambique, which is in the third wave of covid-19, has a total death toll of 1,341 and that of cases to 113,426, 75% of which recovered and 458 hospitalized, according to Monday's updates.