Angola: Authorities extend nationwide state of Public Calamity and sanitary cordon in Luanda through November 7 /update 12

Event

Authorities have extended the sanitary cordon in the capital Luanda for a further 30 days through at least November 7 as part of the ongoing period of Public Calamity which has also been extended for this period. The sanitary cordon, initially announced on May 26, was introduced to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Despite this, authorities also announced the easing of some measures. 

As of Friday, October 9, travelers can enter and leave Luanda without official permits; however, they are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test. Most nonessential businesses are allowed to open between 07:00 and 20:00 (local time) at a 75 percent capacity. Street vendors are permitted to operate Tuesdays to Saturdays between 06:00 and 18:00. Religious and funeral services are permitted to operate four days a week nationwide. There is a 15-person limit at funeral services for COVID-19 related deaths, but this increases to 25 people in other cases. Schools and education institutions are gradually reopening between October 5 and October 26. Beaches remain closed until November 7, and nightclubs remain closed.

Face masks remain compulsory for all individuals in public places and on public transport, though are no longer mandatory in private vehicles. Public transport may operate at 75 percent capacity in Luanda and other provinces between 06:00 and 22:00.

Domestic flights resumed operations on September 14 and international flights on September 21, albeit limited to official travel, diplomatic travel, medical evacuation, and repatriation of citizens. Business and leisure travel remain prohibited. Individuals are not required to obtain authorization from authorities to enter and leave the country, provided that a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test is taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure or arrival. Additional testing should be expected at airports, at the expense of travelers. Individuals entering the country are required to quarantine for seven days. Land and sea borders remain closed until further notice, except for humanitarian and cargo transport.

As of October 9, there have been 6031 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Angola with 212 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the general risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.