DILI, 13 july 2021 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Health (MoF) reaffirmed the government’s position that citizens with double vaccinated, including children under six years of age, are free to move around the national territory.
The Health Minister, Odete Maria Freitas Belo clarified that her recent statement regarding fully vaccinated citizens must go through swabs testing for travel authorization out of capital Dili was a misstatement, saying the public must adhere to a government resolution issued earlier this month, which allow free movement for double vaccinated citizens, within the national territory.
Based on the decision of the Council of Ministers on july 1 states that: “Individuals who provide proof of the full vaccination (two doses) against COVID-19 and accompanying children under the age of six are not covered by the prohibition of circulation.”
“I would like to inform and announce to the public that for those citizens who have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine, including kids under six years of age no need to take swabs testing to go to the municipalities. The decision on free movement for fully vaccinated citizens was based on a government resolution issued on july 1. Many people, including myself, went to municipalities without taking the swab testing,” Belo made the comments at MSSI office, in Dili, on tuesday.
Belo called communities to keep practicing the health guidance recommended by WHO and MoH to combat coronavirus in the communities.
“It is an obligation for all individuals residing in Timor-Leste to keep social and physical distancing. Communities are also still obliged to wear face masks when having access to or staying in public or private places of collective use and to wash their hands when entering commercial, industrial, or service provision establishments or buildings, where public administration services operate. Everyone is also obliged to avoid gathering in public spots,” Belo added.
As of monday, there has been a total of 9.862 lab-confirmed cases of the virus in Timor-Leste, with 8.928 recoveries, active cases were 909 and 25 deaths, according to data of the CIGC.
In Timor-Leste, of the 754.864 eligible groups, 231.145 (30.6%) had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of the number, around 34.053 (4.5%) have also received their second dose of the vaccine.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor:Rafy Belo
