Overview
The first COVID-19 case was reported on March 21, 2020, while community transmission started on April 27. In May 2021, due to the sharp increase in Covid-19 cases, the authorities reinstated several restrictions, including banning some trips from and to Luanda, and trips to Brazil and India. Furthermore, governmental and private institutions should operate with up to 50 percent of the workforce and the school year will end earlier. Until end-May, average daily cases hit 300 cases/day (7-days moving average), the highest level since the pandemic onset. Angola received 624,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine delivered through the COVAX system, a donation of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from the Beijing Institute of Biological Products. Additionally, under the COVAX system, Angola received over 100,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the beginning of June. As of end-May, over 600,000 people had received the first dose and over 300,000 people had received the second dose. The vaccination plan is estimated to cost US$ 217 million and aims to cover 20 percent of the population in the first phase. The Angolan government has authorized the purchase of additional 6 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine, of which 40,000 were received.
COVID-19 Restrictions
- Is a curfew in place? No
- The Angolan government recommends staying indoors and away from public areas between the hours of 10p.m. and 5a.m.
- Are there restrictions on interstate travel? Yes
- Travel in and out of Luanda Province requires special permission from the Government of Angola.
- The Angolan government requires proof of a negative serological (rapid) COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to boarding domestic flights.
Fines for Non-Compliance (if applicable)
- Failure to comply with the Angolan government’s measures carries penalties that vary from fines to potential criminal charges.
- Not using a mask or using one incorrectly (not covering both the mouth and nose), carries a fine of 15,000 to 20,000 kwanzas.
- Business and restaurants that operate outside of the proscribed rules face fines of 400,000 to 500,000 kwanzas and possible temporary closure.
- Leaving the quarantine area of Luanda (without a negative COVID test result) carries a fine of 250,000 to 350,000 kwanzas. Criminal charges may be brought against anyone who leaves this area.
- Anyone under home quarantine who leaves their home may face a fine from 250,000 to 350,000 kwanzas. They will also be placed in institutional quarantine and could face criminal charges. Anyone who is under home isolation (for a suspected/confirmed case) and violates their isolation faces fines of 350,000 to 450,000 kwanzas, possible criminal charges, and mandatory institutional isolation.
Economic Measures
Key Policy Responses as of June 2, 2021
FISCAL
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The National Assembly approved revenue and expenditure measures to fight the COVID-19 outbreak and minimize its negative economic impact. About US$40 million on additional health care spending was announced and about US$80 million are being spent on 250 Cuban doctors who arrived in Angola to help. Tax exemptions on humanitarian aid and donations and some delays on filing taxes for selected imports were granted. On July 28, 2020, the National Assembly adopted a conservative supplementary budget, aiming at securing space for additional health expenditure, while balancing the need to keep debt on a sustainable path. The 2021 budget consolidated the nonoil revenue gains and expenditure restraint of the 2020 budget, while protecting priority health and social spending. On May 17, 2021, additional US$ 33 million were approved for purchase of 4 million vaccine doses through the African Union.
MONETARY AND MACRO-FINANCIAL
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In March 2020, the central bank (BNA) reduced the rate on its 7-day permanent liquidity absorption facility and expanded its credit-stimulus program to selected sectors. Financial institutions were requested to grant their clients a moratorium of 60 days for servicing debt. In April 3, the BNA increased the minimum bank credit allocation to producers of priority products and instructed banks to provide credit in local currency to assist importers of essential goods. In May 7, 2020, the BNA reinstated its Permanent Overnight Liquidity Provision facility to provide liquidity support to banks (Kz 100 billion), and extended access to large non-financial corporations on a discount line created for the purchasing of government securities. However, with inflation steadily rising and the worst of the shock seemingly passing, the BNA shifted to a gradual tightening in the second half of 2020. Actions included the enhanced use of open market operations to drain excess liquidity from the system and an increase in the reserve requirement on banks' foreign exchange deposits (to be settled in domestic currency) in September. In March 2021, the BNA implemented additional measures to control inflation, including increasing the 7-day permanent liquidity absorption facility (reversing the cut in the same rate made in March 2020) and, in May 2021, again increased the reserve requirement on banks' foreign exchange deposits.
EXCHANGE RATE AND BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
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On April 1, 2020, the central bank introduced an electronic platform for foreign exchange transactions. By May 2021, the transactions between the largest players, including Oil, diamond, Treasury and BNA, were carried out in the platform. Exchange rate futures were also traded in the platform .
Source : IMF & WB
Civic Freedom Tracker
DECREE NO. 82/20 ON A STATE OF EXCEPTION TO PREVENT AND CONTROL THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The presidential decree declares a nationwide "state of exception." The decree grants the government power to limit individuals' freedom of movement and assembly, requisition private property, and forcibly confine people deemed likely to transmit COVID-19. (See primary source or citation here)
Type: order
Date Introduced: 27 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Emergency, Movement
