Presidential Decree no. 39/21 of 9 February 2021 was published, updating the exceptional measures taken under Presidential Decree no. 10/21 of 8 January 2021, updating the measures to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19, as well as the rules of operation of public and private services and social facilities, for the duration of the Public Calamity Situation.
This Presidential Decree enters into force on 10 February 2021 and will remain in force until next 11 March 2021.
Among the measures foreseen in this new Presidential Decree, we briefly highlight the following:
i. Home collection, in the period between 10:00 pm and 5:00 am, every day of the week, as well as the mandatory use of face mask in the public streets, in closed spaces of public access, in public transportation and public transport, in educational establishments, in street vending and markets;
ii. Health fence in the Province of Luanda, effective from at midnight (0h00) on 10 February 2021 and until 11:59 pm. on 11 March 2021. However, entry and exit will remain subject to a negative SARS-COV-2 virus test, with no need for any other type of authorization;
iii. Closure of all borders, except in previously authorized situations, which are subject to (i) pre-shipment testing for the SARS-COV-2 virus on a molecular basis by RT-PCR, with negative results, carried out within 72 hours prior to travel; (ii) remote completion of a travel registration form; and (iii) signing of a term of commitment, under the terms defined by the competent authorities;
iv. Carrying out post-disembarkation test to passengers coming from outside the country, at the airport facilities, in the framework of non-suspended scheduled air connections;
v. Hours of operation, for administrative services in the public sector, between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm and, for the private sector, between 6:00 am. and 4:00 pm, with both services operating with 75% of the workforce;
vi. Working hours of commercial establishments, between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm, with the limit of face-to-face work force of up to 100%, unless the distance of 2 meters between workers cannot be guaranteed, in which case it should not exceed the 50% limit;
vii. Hours of operation for restaurants and similar facilities, between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm. for local service and between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm for take-away and home delivery services.
The new diploma maintains some rules already foreseen in the previous diplomas, namely:
i) Special duty of collaboration;
ii) Recreational, cultural and leisure activities, in the public way or in public space;
iii) Religious activities;
iv) Collective transportation of people and goods and motorcycle cab activities;
v) Access to beaches, public swimming pools, and bathing areas, access to which is still forbidden.
António Vicente Marques – Sociedade de Advogados, RL.
Luanda, February 2021