Updating of the exceptional and temporary measures in force during the duration of the public calamity situation

The recent Presidential Decree no. 256/20, of 8 October (hereinafter also referred to as "PD 256/20") came to proceed to the fourth update of the exceptional and temporary measures for the prevention and control of the disease, to be in force during the Public Calamity, as well as defining the rules of operation of public and private services and social facilities, for a period of 30 (thirty) days.
 

Among the measures provided for in this new Presidential Decree, we briefly highlight the following:

1. Maintenance of the closing of the country borders, subjecting the entries and exits of the national territory to sanitary control defined by the competent sanitary authorities, in the situations / special conditions in which it is allowed entries and exits of people and goods from the national territory;
    
2. Elimination of the existence of any type of authorization for the entries and exits of the national territory, which are only dependent on i) carrying out an RT-PCR test with a negative result, made within 72 hours before the trip; ii) remote completion of a travel registration form, and; iii) signature of a term of commitment for health control by the competent authorities;
    
3. Maintenance of the sanitary fence in the Province of Luanda, to be in force from 0h00 on 9 October and until 23h59 on 7 November 2020, being the entries and exits in the Province of Luanda subject to the testing of the SARS-COV-2 virus with a negative result, being dispensed with any other type of authorization;
    
4. Maintaining the gradual resumption of scheduled flights, both national and international, as well as compliance with other required biosafety rules and presentation of the type of test required, with negative results, depending on whether they are international flights to and from Angola or domestic flights;
    
5. Home quarantine fulfillment for national citizens, foreign residents and members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Angola, as well as for non-resident foreign citizens, coming from outside the country, through signing a Liability Term;
    
6. Subject to the completion of home quarantine with the issuance of the discharge certificate by the competent health authority, which takes place after the performance of SARS-COV-2 test with a negative result, performed at least 7 days after the beginning of home quarantine;
    
7. Maintaining special protection for groups of citizens considered vulnerable, in particular, persons aged 60 years or more; pregnant women and underage children, whose age limit rises from 12 years to 5 years;
    
8. Increase of the on-site labour force, both in the public and private sectors, to 75% of the workforce, throughout the national territory;
    
9. Return of the in-person classes in pre-school education from 26 October 2020, through compliance with certain rules and biosecurity measures;
    
10. Maintenance of the authorization for the return of the in-person classes in the teaching establishments of foreign states and international schools;
     
11. Maintenance of the authorization to operate professional training centers and similar;
     
12. Continuation of the commercial activity of goods and services in general, including canteens and similar, in the hours between 07h00 and 21h00, with the limit of the on-site labour force changed to 75% and the presence of clients within the establishments subject to the limit of 50% of their capacity;
     
13. Maintaining the opening of restaurants and similar, through compliance with the rules and measures of biosecurity and physical distance between recommended clients;
     
14. General authorization for cultural and artistic activities of fashion, music, theater, dance and similar, subject to compliance with certain rules and measures of biosafety and prior authorization from the competent local entities; and
     
15. Maintenance of the validity, even if expired, until 31 December 2020, of some official documents, such as Identity Card; Driver's License; Vehicle Registration Card; Foreign Resident Card and visas granted to foreign citizens who are in Angola.

Finally, it should be noted that the measures for individual protection and the operation of public and private services, as well as activities and meetings, gatherings, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages and motor-taxis, the rules, remain unchanged.
 

The present PD 256/20 entered into force at midnight (0h00) on 9 October 2020 and is in force until 7 November 2020.