On March 14, 2020, the Ministry of Health and Welfare issued a statement in which reported that was detected a suspicious case of the new Coronavirus COVID-19 in a 40-year-old woman born in Equatorial Guinea, that arrived in Malabo, March 13, on a flight operated by Ceiba
Intercontinental from Madrid, Spain.
The woman was placed in quarantine, and is currently awaiting confirmation of the diagnosis.
Thus, following the precautionary measures for the prevention and control of the pandemic outbreak of the new Coronavirus COVID-19 announced by the Government of Equatorial Guinea in its statement of March 12 (already reflected in our previous newsflash), and after the suspicion of the first case detected in the country, on March 15 the Presidency of the Government decreed that:
- All academic activities at all levels of the educational system are suspended, both in public and private education, as well as all sports competitions.
- Suspension of religious celebrations.
- Meetings of more than 10 people is not recommended. Meetings in restaurants and bars were excluded from this measure, whenever these establishments carry out cleaning and hygiene measures.
- Public transportation by bus is prohibited.
- All parties (birthdays, baptisms and communions), weddings, funerals, as well as all laser and daytime activities (discotheques, pubs, casinos, parks, etc.) are temporarily suspended.
- All services of the Public and Private Administration of the State are maintained as long as the measures to contain suspected cases are observed.
- It is advisable that all employees of the Public and Private Administration services, cleaning and maintenance services of state buildings, use disinfectant gel or alcoholic solution products for disinfecting hands, handles, elevator buttons, etc.
- Airline officials, in collaboration with the Immigration Services, are asked to provide the Ministry of Health and Welfare with a list of passengers who have entered Equatorial Guinea since February 1 of this year, including names of Government Members, Senior
Officials and Officials, if applicable. - Those responsible for the Communities of Neighbours and Municipalities of Villages are asked to monitor the strict observance of these measures as well as any non-compliance.
- The population is asked to respect and comply with these measures.
These measures came into force on March 15 and will be valid for 30 days, extendable or not, depending on the evolution of the outbreak, according to the Government statement on March 12, 2020.
Further it was decreed that all other legal provisions that oppose these measures are waived.
