Mozambique: all events of over 300 people suspended

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi announced on Saturday that all events of more than 300 people are to be suspended as part of the government’s plan to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

In his address the president said that any events that do go ahead should be held in open spaces with adequate ventilation.

The ban will affect sports fixtures, concerts, large religious ceremonies, and political rallies. 

It is as yet unclear whether the ban will affect the next sitting of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, due to be held on 25th March. The Assembly has just 250 members but with support staff, journalists and guests the numbers in attendance would easily exceed 300. 

Additional precautionary measures include the suspension of all state travel abroad, and a two week quarantine for all citizens arriving from “active transmission countries” such as China, Italy, South Korea, and the United States. 

The measures will see the suspension of the president’s own trip to Equatorial Guinea and Gaza, which was originally scheduled for later this month. 

So far no cases of coronavirus have been reported in Mozambique, with President Nyusi keen to keep it that way.

In his address he urged citizens to follow basic hygiene procedures, saying “Let us all contribute so that COVID-19 finds it difficult to reach Mozambique”. 

Photo: AFP