Mozambique reported its first COVID-19 case on March 22, 2020. Following the peak in September 2020, the daily Covid-19 cases deaths spiked again and reached the highest peak in February 2021. The second wave appears to be receding. As of June 3 2021, there were 70,965 cases (2.214 cases per million inhabitants) and 837 deaths were confirmed with a fatality rate of 1.2 percent.
Early on, the government took several actions to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, stating that “prevention remains the best strategy.” These actions included (i) the shutdown of schools form pre-school up to university, (ii) the ban of all gatherings – including religious services - of more than 50 persons, (iii) the ban and cancellation of all entry visas, (iv) a 14-day quarantine for all travelers entering Mozambique and (v) the creation of a technical and scientific committee to advise the government. The government has made it mandatory to wear face masks in public places.
On March 30 2020, President Nyusi declared a state of emergency, extended until July 30. In August, the President declared a second state of emergency (after 3 consecutive months of State of Emergency allowed by the Constitution) to further halt the spread of the Covid-19. The measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus included: (i) imposing limitations on movements within the country and border entries; (ii) ban on all types of public or private events; (iii) closure or reduction of non-essential shops; (iv) monitoring prices of essential goods for preventing price gouging; (v) redirecting the industrial sector toward the production of goods necessary for the prevention and mitigation of the Covid-19 pandemic; (vi) introducing employee rotation in the workspace; and (vii) ensuring the adoption of preventative actions in all institutions, public or private.
Reopening of the economy. Gradual easing of restrictions in three phases started in August 2020, with low risk activities including reopening of universities and other senior level colleges and religious gathering with no more than 50 people. In October, the government introduced additional requirements for firms to ensure readiness to manage COVID cases. Mid-December, the government further eased restrictions, allowing bars to reopen, and increasing the upper limit for private gatherings. However, due to the steady increase of cases, the government tightened the Covid-19 measures, on February 04, including a ban of private social events, conferences and religious services, closure of schools, and a curfew of Maputo City and Province, where about 70% of active cases originate. In March 2021, the President announced the re-opening of all schools (primary, secondary, technical, professional and higher education) for in-person learning. In May, further easing of restrictions was announced, including reopening of pre-school education, swimming pools and gyms. Nonetheless, both the Minister of Health as well as the president warned of a third wave and is committed to imposing social restrictions as needed.
The government plans to vaccinate 6.4 million people (20 percent of population) by December 2022, and formally launched the vaccination campaign in March 2021, starting with health workers, vulnerable people (including people in nursing homes) and defense and security forces. As of May 24, about 320,000 persons had been vaccinated.