On the last 8 September 2020, Presidential Decree no. 229/20 was published, which updates the measures to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in Angola, including those related to the operation of public and private services, as well as social facilities, during the public calamity.
With the publication of Presidential Decree no. 229/20, foreign professionals providing services in Angola (both to public and private entities), as well as foreign citizens holding a work visa, may now enter the national territory. However, such entries into national territory (as well as the exits) are subject to a pre-boarding RT-PCR test with a negative result within 72 hours prior to travelling. Likewise, the provinces and municipalities where a cordon sanitaire is in place are still subject to sanitary control, with entries and exits for professional reasons and official trips now being safeguarded.
The main innovation introduced by Presidential Decree no. 229/20 relates to the gradual return of scheduled flights, with domestic flights being allowed from 14 September 2020, and international flights from 21 September 2020. Without prejudice, the boarding on international flights to and from Angola is subject to presentation of a RT-PCR test with a negative result in the 72 hours preceding the trip. In both cases, no further authorization is required, without prejudice of other administrative formalities.
Citizens from outside the country who test negative for COVID-19 in their pre-boarding tests shall, however, be placed into home quarantine and sign a term of responsibility in the format defined by the health authorities. The home quarantine will be deemed as completed once the competent health authorities issue a discharge certificate after a negative test has been carried out. Such test shall be carried out at least 7 days after the start of home quarantine. Citizens who test positive and show no symptoms of COVID-19 shall be placed into home isolation an must comply to any other measures defined by the competent authorities. In cases where these authorities consider that there are no conditions for home quarantine or isolation, they may order an institutional quarantine or isolation.
Regarding the protection of vulnerable citizens, we highlight the fact that children under the age of 5 are now considered vulnerable, whereas in the previous regime children up to 12 years old were considered vulnerable. We also highlight the fact that citizens who have children under 5 years of age under their care shall now have to work for 50% of their working period, having previously been exempted from working. Additionally, with the new Presidential Decree no. 229/20, the possibility of creating a mechanism for remote or safe work by agreement between worker and employer is now expressly provided.
In what concerns public services, these will now operate between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., in the presence of 50% of their workforce if they are located in Luanda province, or in the presence of 75% of their workforce if they are located in the other provinces. The same proportion should be applied to the administrative services of private sector, between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. In turn, commercial activity of goods and services in general is allowed between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. in the presence of 50% of their workforce if they are located in Luanda province, or 75% of their workforce if they are located in the other provinces.
These measures are in force in Angola as of 9 September 2020 and are applicable for a period of 30 days (i.e., until 9 October). This Legal Alert focus only on key aspects of the recently published Presidential Decree no. 229/20, for details on other issues the reading in its entirety of the diploma is advised