Covid, Ambassador of Mozambique: “Punitive and hasty measures taken by European countries”

“With regard to southern Africa, we consider the measures adopted by European countries punitive, hasty and without scientific basis. These measures do not contribute to combating Covid-19 internationally and have implications for the development of our countries. Today it is proved that isolating countries does not eliminate the virus “. This was stated in an interview with Adnkronos Cesar Gouveia, Mozambique’s ambassador to Rome, commenting on the restrictions imposed by numerous European states, including Italy, on entry from 8 countries including South Africa and Mozambique itself due to fears related to the omicron variant. “What Africa needs, and Mozambique in particular, is the support to vaccinate the majority of the population”, Gouveia continues, recalling that during this year “there have been numerous appeals from various organizations and personalities. to increase support for African countries in the provision of vaccines. To date, a very insignificant number of the African population has been vaccinated “.” The position adopted by European countries, including Italy, is very hard for our countries “, adds the ambassador, however, highlighting how “Mozambique and Italy have excellent cooperation relationships. Important Italian companies operate in our country contributing to the development of Mozambique” and that “in recent days these companies were already gradually resuming their activities in our country after the significant improvement in the levels of Covid-19 infection “. Gouveia therefore underlines that” at this moment Mozambique has a very low level of infection or, less than 0.5%, with 4-7 cases per thousand people tested “. Furthermore, “we are testing all those positive results in November to see if they have the omicron variant and so far none of them have tested positive. We are not closing the borders,” the ambassador concludes.