DILI, 02 march 2021 (TATOLI)- Timor- Leste Government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to rising COVID-19 infections, a step that would allow the country to control the international circulation, limits the group activities and to impose other measures to blunt the pandemic.
The state of emergency begins in march 04, 2021 at 00:00 to April 2,2021 at 23:59.
The decision comes as new infection contribute to rise in the number of infections in the country, which has already closed its borders. The state of emergency would also allow the government to temporarily close the schools and limit movement between municipalities.
“President of Republic declares state of Emergency to allow the government to take the measure to suspend all the right for international circulation to all citizens, including movement within the country, the right for the meeting and other, while for the education, the relevant entities can take a decision to temporarily suspend the activities to prevent the number of infections in the schools,” President of Republic, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo said.
The government propose for the extension of the state of emergency due to the rapid rise in COVID-19 infections in West Indonesia, Atambua and local transmission in Covalima municipality in the past two weeks.
The President also appealed to the security forces to control the border areas in Covalima municipality to prevent people from crossing the border illegaly to Timor-Leste.
So far Timor-Leste among the Asian countries least affected by the virus, it has recorded 113 cases and zero death since the start of the pandemic with 23 people currently hospitalized.
Journalist: Osória Marques
Editor: Cancio Ximenes
