DILI, 12 March 2020, (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak has not ruled out closing Timor’s borders entirely “if necessary” to keep Covid-19 out of the country.
Speaking after a meeting with President Francisco Guterres Lú-Olo, the PM responded to questions about why the yesterday’s travel ban left off neighbouring Indonsia.
“In regards to the government’s decision to stop [people’s] movement from the four countries, but excluding Indonesia: we see [those] countries have large numbers and more intense [cases] of coronavirus. But we are also prepared if necessary to close our [borders],” he said.
“This morning I informed the president: if the situation forces us to isolate ourselves, we will do it,” he said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNEK) yesterday announced a ban on foreigners who’ve transited through Iran, Italy, South Korea or China from entering Timor-Leste.
Foreigners who’ve already arrived from any of the four countries would face mandatory quarantine if they “refuse to go back” to the port of origin, MNEK said.
PM Taur last week said the country needed to be “psychologically prepared” for the virus to arrive.
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He met this morning with the inter-ministerial taskforce set up to tackle Covid-19, which includes the ministers for health, finance and foreign affairs.
The taskforce has met regularly with international partners, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and various ambassadors and NGOs. But the prime minister said more help is needed.
“Because if larger countries which have better health systems have don’t have power to settle such a problem [Covid-19], how will the weak health system of Timor-Leste?” the prime minister said.
Timor-Leste remains one of only a handful of countries in Asia without a confirmed case of the virus. More than half of the 124,000 people infected have now recovered, according to the WHO.
However the number of deaths continues to rise, at 4,623, mostly in mainland China (3,169).
Read the original Tetum here: Prevene Coronavirus, Governu Halo Preparasaun iha Fatin Tolu
Journalists: Robert Baird; Cipriano Colo
Editors: Robert Baird; Cancio Ximenes
Translation: Nelia Borges
