China has pledged to up its assistance to Angola in the fight against the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), President Xi Jinping said at the weekend.
Xi disclosed that the Asian giant plans to send an anti-epidemic medical expert group to the country.
Xi, in a telephone conversation with Angolan President Joao Lourenco, said China is willing to give priority to sharing with African countries after its vaccine research and development is successful and put into use.
Xi said that in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chinese and Angolan governments have taken resolute and decisive measures, and have effectively contained the epidemic based on the principle of putting people first and putting life first.
He added that the two sides have supported and helped each other, and the expatriates of the two countries in each other’s countries have been well taken care of.
Meanwhile, Angolan authorities have decided to reopen schools next month after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to media reports.
According to Education Minister Luísa Grilo, classes will resume in phases and on alternating days with grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 expected to resume on October 5.
Classes for the grades 7 and 8 will resume on Oct. 19.
The class sessions are expected to be divided into two and will go for two-and-half hours and three-and-half hours for primary schools and secondary schools respectively, according to the website.
Adao de Almeida, the head of the presidential palace, announced that the government will continue observing certain COVID-19 guidelines until October 9 when schools will resume, according to the website.
He noted that more COVID-19 restrictions will be imposed from September and everyone in public places will be required to have temperature checks, wear face masks, and observe social distancing.
Angola has since March, confirmed 3,033 COVID-19 cases, 124 deaths and 1,215 recoveries.