Government of Timor-Leste

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Eighth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Clarification on measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and public health protection

The last few weeks have seen a worsening of the country-wide pandemic situation of COVID-19, with confirmation of the existence of the delta variant in the country and a large increase in the number of people infected, hospitalisations, severe cases of the disease and deaths.

Between August 16th and 22nd, Timor-Leste registered a total of 1,651 cases of new coronavirus infection, 54 people had to be hospitalized and 18 people died from COVID-19.

Although vaccination against COVID-19 is progressing positively throughout the country and despite its proven effectiveness in preventing severe cases and deaths, there has been an increase in those infected also among the vaccinated population, who, although the risk of being hospitalised is much lower than those who are not vaccinated, can infect others, including the most vulnerable.

None of the 52 people who died with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Timor-Leste had the full vaccination.

In view of this worsening of the situation and to protect public health, the Government, through the Council of Ministers, in its meeting on August 25^th, 2021, decided:

• Impose a mandatory confinement (lockdown) in the Municipality of Dili, from August 27^th to September 2^nd, 2021.
  • Confinement (lockdown) is a measure that requires people to stay at home.
  • This measure covers all citizens of the city of Dili, including those who have been fully vaccinated.
  • All persons in the Dili Municipality are obliged to stay at home and may only leave for reasons of health, work (in the case of public administration, the superior defines which employees are not exempt from the duty to attend), to access basic goods and services and to receive the vaccine against COVID-19.

• Maintain the imposition of sanitary fences in the Municipality of Dili, until September 13^th, 2021.

• Sanitary Fence is a measure prohibiting movement from the boundaries of the municipality. It is not the same as lockdown.
• It is prohibited to enter and leave this municipality, except for reasons of public safety, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of the public supply systems or in the public interest
• From August 27th to September 2nd, in reference to the Government Resolution imposing general home confinement of the population of the Municipality of Dili, all persons in the Municipality of Dili, including those vaccinated against COVID-19, are obliged to remain at home.

• Maintain the imposition of sanitary fence in the Municipality of Ermera, until September 13^th, 2021.
  • Sanitary Fence is a measure prohibiting movement from the boundaries of the municipality. It is not the same as lockdown.
  • It is prohibited to enter and leave this municipality, except for reasons of public safety, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of the public supply systems or in the public interest
  • This prohibition does not apply to persons who provide proof of full vaccination (two doses) against COVID-19 and to accompanying children under the age of six.

• Impose sanitary fences in the municipalities of Covalima and Baucau, between August 26^th and September 8^th, 2021.
  • Sanitary Fence is a measure prohibiting movement from the boundaries of the municipalities. It is not the same as lockdown.
  • It is prohibited to enter and leave these municipalities, except for reasons of public safety, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of the public supply systems or in the public interest
  • This prohibition does not apply to persons who provide proof of full vaccination (two doses) against COVID-19 and to accompanying children under the age of six.

• Maintain the imposition of sanitary fences in the areas covered by the village (suco) Naimeco, in the Administrative Post of Pante Macassar, and by the village (suco) Bobometo, in the Administrative Post of Oesilo, both in the RAEOA, until September 8^th, 2021.
  • Sanitary Fence is a measure prohibiting movement from the boundaries of the municipalities. It is not the same as lockdown.
  • It is prohibited to enter and leave these villages (sucos), except for reasons of public safety, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of the public supply systems or in the public interest
  • This prohibition does not apply to persons who provide proof of full vaccination (two doses) against COVID-19 and to accompanying children under the age of six.

• Impose compulsory confinement (lockdown) on the Administrative Posts of Ermera and Railaco, of the Municipality of Ermera, until September 1^st, 2021.
  • Confinement (lockdown) is a measure that requires people to stay at home.
  • This measure does not cover persons who have been fully vaccinated.
  • All persons in the administrative posts of Ermera and Railaco, who do not have the complete vaccination, are obliged to stay at home and may only leave for reasons of health, work, to access basic goods and services and to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition to the measures already mentioned, the Council of Ministers, through the Government Decree, referring to the implementation measures of the declaration of the state of emergency, decided to ban, throughout the national territory, all activities that involve the agglomeration of people.

The Government urges the entire population to participate in the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 and to respect all the prevention measures, namely always wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth, wash hands regularly, keep at least three feet between themselves and others and avoid crowds of people. END