Coronavirus: Mauritius sets up lab at airport

19 Août 2020

Port-Louis, Mauritius, August 19 (Infosplusgabon) – Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Tuesday, told Parliament that a CIVID-19 laboratory is currently being set up at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam international airport, southern Mauritius, to effect PCR tests on all arriving passengers.

The lab that should increase testing capacity and expedite the PCR testing process will be operational in a few weeks.

Mr Jugnauth recalled that the country’s borders have been completely closed since 19 March, apart from cargo flights including airfreight of medical supplies and equipment, medical evacuation and repatriation purposes.

According to him, Mauritius is COVID-safe with regard to local cases.  “No COVID-19 infection case has been recorded since 26 April 2020,” he indicated.

Mr Jugnauth said the current border restrictions and the mandatory 14-day quarantine for passengers returning from overseas are among the vitally important protection measures that have been taken to minimise the risk of coronavirus virus proliferation in Mauritius.

“These measures have also prevented the disease from spreading exponentially,” he observed.

The Prime Minister said that the prevention of a second wave of the pandemic is highly dependent on the strategy to be adopted for the re-opening of the country’s borders.

“The needs and benefits of travel must be weighed against the risks associated with the spread and a resurgence of cases which would necessitate a reintroduction of confinement,” he said.

He highlighted that existing control and strict sanitary measures put in place at points of entry have to be reinforced for the screening of passengers upon arrival on the Mauritian territory.

“Prevention measures such as social distancing, wearing of masks and hand hygiene have to be maintained,” he added.

Mr Jugnauth said other proactive measures include elaboration of necessary preparedness plans; strengthening of existing sanitary protocols at both the port and airport; increasing the number of quarantine centres; and elaboration of sanitary protocol for the resumption of airport activities.

The Prime Minister said that depending on how successful Mauritius and other countries are in managing the pandemic, and once all relevant sanitary protocols are finalised and the laboratory is operational, consideration would be given for the appropriate time for the re-opening of the borders and operation of scheduled commercial flights.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/OMM/GABON2020

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