DECREE NUMBER NUMER0 54/ 2020 DATED 04 AUGUST, agrees to enter the Second Phase of the Relaxation of the State of Health Alarm, restriction of confinement and precautionary measures adopted by Decree No. 42/ 2020, dated 31 March.
WITH REGARDS TO Decree No. 45/2020, dated 15th June, declaring PHASE I of Relaxation of the State of Health Alarm restriction of confinement and precautionary measures of the new Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
CONSIDERING, that the COVID-19 Pandemic surveillance and Response Technical Committee has been closely monitoring the daily evolution of the COVID 19 pandemic in the country and through the routine information that the data center has been issuing daily since the start of the pandemic. In this regard, the Committee welcomes the favorable developments in the positivity rate, in which a decrease is seen in comparing accumulated positivity with daily positivity based on new cases.
CONSIDERING, furthermore, the report of the Technical Committee on Surveillance and Response to COVID 19, raised to the Government through the Political Committee to fight the Pandemic, which reveals the monthly developments of the last three months, finding that the positivity rate has risen from 13.5% on 15 May and has gradually declined in the following months, moving from 7.3% on June 16 and finally 3% on July 16.
This shows a sustained reduction in the number of positive daily cases found in the country,
By virtue, at the proposal from the Prime Minister of the Government, In charge of Administrative Coordination and in use of the powers conferred on me by the legal provisions in force,
I HAVE:
Article 1. The entry to the Second Relaxation Phase of the State of Health Alarm is agreed
Article 2.It is authorized and in accordance with the observed evolution of the pandemic in the country, the holding of acts of worship, seminars , cultural events, sports leagues with a maximum capacity of 50%, complying at all times with mandatory prevention and containment measures, including the taking of temperature, disinfection of hands and the use of masks.
Article 3. Religious Confessions may restart their services; this will be done after preparing protocols for prevention and containment of the infection protocol by establishing multiple shifts. The maximum capacity authorized by religious confessions will be 50% for their different activities. Employers’ festivities and other celebrations that may result in a large gathering of people are not authorized. Weddings and baptisms will be limited in liturgical celebrations.
Article 4. The following public places are authorized to open:
- A) The Markets.
- B) Schools from 1 September with a capacity of not more than 50%. The Ministry of Education should establish multiple morning, afternoon and evening shifts in order to enable the teaching program of the subjects taught at all levels of education to be fulfilled. The Ministry of Education will ensure that means of prevention are available in all schools. For the cities of Malabo and Bata, a random PCR test should be taken in schools.
- C) Casinos, bars and public parks shall always maintain prevention measures and a capacity limit of 50% of their capacity.
Article 5. Travelers arriving in the country, whether expatriates or nationals, must present a negative PCR TEST certificate of up to 48 hours of issuance. In the event that travelers do not present this certificate, the PCR test will be carried out at the airport, subject to payment of 50,000 F.Cfas, for nationals, and 110,000 F.Cfas for expats. The payment of the test must be made by deposit or transfer to the bank account set up at the National Bank of Equatorial Guinea (BANGE), entitled National Institute of Public Health Research of Equatorial Guinea (INISAPGE), number 37111233901-3 (Swift code NAGCGQXXX). Incoming travelers must isolate themselves in a hotel in the city while awaiting the result of the TEST PCR, under the supervision of the Committee. The costs associated with your stay at the hotel will be borne by each traveler, regardless of their citizenship, national or foreign.
Article 6. For COVID-19 pandemic control measures, PCR tests will continue to be free for all residents of the country. For travel trips abroad, or those required to test at their destination point, the cost of the PCR test for nationals will be 50,000 F.cfa, and in the case of expats, this cost will be 110,000 F.cfa. The procedure for conducting the test will be identical to that referred to in Article 5, upon payment in the same BANGE account. Samples will be taken at the Health Centre of Buena Esperanza, between 9.00a.m and 11.30a.m, having presented proof of income or transfer for this purpose. The result will be issued within 48 hours, in an office of the headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, enabled for this purpose, during the hours of operation from 10am until 4pm, with proof of income delivered in return.
Article 7.The Technical Committee shall periodically assess the epidemiological impact of the relaxation measures adopted in this PHASE II; and in the event of a re-occurrence of COVID-19 cases in a particular neighborhood, city or area, new social and public health measures will be proposed or provided for a strengthening of technical, human and institutional capacities in order to interrupt the COVID-19 transmission chain and provide sufficient health coverage to those affected.
Article 8. The use of masks in open spaces, public spaces, and public transport and in private vehicles, if accompanied by other people, is still mandatory and necessary. Infrared thermometers for temperature and disinfectant gel will also remain mandatory, as well as strictly comply with established distancing measures, as well as a daily basis to disinfect all facilities before starting the next working day.
Article 9. All private clinics, medical offices and pharmacies will be required to inform the rapid response team and refer suspected cases or patients with obvious symptoms of COVID-19 to the nearest public hospital. Contrary to this directive may lead to the final seal of the private health center.
Article 10. All traditional healers will be required to refer any patient with an acute respiratory problems to the nearest reference hospital and notify the green line (1111-Malabo; or 1112-Bata) or rapid response team, to the nearest governmental and/or health authority about the need to transfer patients suspected of COVID-19 to the nearest treatment center. Contrary to this directive may lead to the final seal of the aforementioned healers.
Article 11. Each Institution must acquire disinfection and automated temperature taking devices, as well as their placement at the Access of public and private buildings.
Article 12. A cell of four members is created in each ministerial department that will serve as a focal point of the liaison with the Technical committee for surveillance and Response against COVID-19.
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS:
UNIQUE.- The Prime Minister of the Government, in charge of administrative coordination, is empowered in coordination with the sectoral Ministries of: Health and Social Welfare; Interior and Local Corporations; National Security; National Defense; Finance, Economy and Planning; Justice, Worship and Penitentiary Institutions: Civil Aviation: Education, University Teaching and Sports; Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Information, Press and Radio. Transport, Posts and Telecommunications: respectively, to issue and take as many complementary measures as are necessary for the strict implementation of the relaxation measures of this Second Phase
REPEALING PROVISION:
All provisions of equal or lower rank are repealed to oppose this Decree.
FINAL PROVISION:
This Decree enters into force on the day of its publication in the National News Media, without prejudice to its publication in the Official Gazette of the State.
This is provided for by this Decree, issued in Malabo, today the fifth day of the month of August of the year two thousand twenty (5th -08-2020).
FOR A BETTER GUINEA,
Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic