The Angolan parliament today unanimously approved the request for an extension of the state of emergency for another 15 days due to the covid-19, which has already caused two deaths among the 19 positive cases registered in Angola.

The resolution on the possibility of extending the state of emergency by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, was approved with 176 votes in favor, no votes against and zero abstentions.

In his speech, deputy Mário Pinto de Andrade, of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the majority party, praised the efforts of the President of the Republic, including the measures of mandatory confinement and restrictions on the movement of people, since the country to date, there are only 19 confirmed cases of contagion, of which two were killed and two recovered.

"This is a very positive balance, taking into account that in other parts of the world the number of daily contagions is between 800 and 1,500 cases and the number of daily deaths is between 500 and 1,000 cases," said the deputy.

According to Mário Pinto de Andrade, measures of a state of emergency can mitigate or even prevent the tragedy that other countries are currently experiencing.

Mário Pinto de Andrade stressed that, despite the importance of the state of emergency for health, this “is bad for the economy”.

In turn, the deputy of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), Maurílio Luiele, stressed that although the number of cases growing in the country is still arithmetic, the records of the last few days suggest an acceleration in the spread of the infection in Angola, “which is a worrying trend”.

"Known as the weaknesses of our health system and in the context of a sharp economic downturn, which tears the social fabric, the prospect of affirming the covid-19 pandemic in Angola may mean a challenge of unpredictable repercussions", he said.

In this sense, added the deputy from the bench of the largest opposition party in Angola, "there is a high risk of calamity in Angola that should not be overlooked and of which all Angolans should be aware".

“In this sense, UNITA is in favor of declaring a state of emergency and renewing it under the terms of this request from the President of the Republic, considering that it provides the necessary environment for the implementation of measures of isolation and social distance, which are essential to contain the spread of covid-19, ”he said.

The deputy of the Wide Convergence of Salvation of Angola - Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE), André Mendes de Carvalho “Miau”, said that the party is in favor of the extension of the state of emergency, having, however, made some recommendations on the terms .

“We are of the opinion that the people who leave home do so, not essentially out of indiscipline, in the vast majority, but out of necessity, this is how in the first 15 days of the state of emergency we assist and there was even some flexibility in the sense of "zungueiras" can make their bread as usual, "he said.

For his part, the leader of the parliamentary bench of the Social Renewal Party (PRS), Benedito Daniel, admitted that the circumstances are difficult, and given the scenario that is presented they are favorable to the state of emergency.

The same opinion had the representative of the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), Lucas Ngonda, who expressed concern for the communities, due also to the high circulation of people.

Covid-19 caused 572 deaths in Africa and 11,400 cases are reported in 52 countries, while 1,313 people have recovered, according to the latest data on the continent's pandemic.

The new coronavirus, responsible for the covid-19 pandemic, has already infected more than 1.5 million people worldwide, of whom nearly 89,000 died.

Of the cases of infection, more than 312 thousand are considered cured.

After appearing in China in December, the outbreak spread across the world, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic situation.

It should be noted that the second phase of the state of emergency in Angola will run from 00:00 on April 11 until midnight on April 25.