Timor-Leste is under a state of emergency since 28 March 2020 until 26 April 2020, to prevent the community spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the Tibar Bay Port is a project of strategic national interest for the country, its construction and related activities are exempted from any suspension, including the import or export of goods and materials necessary to carry out the works.

Since February 2020,  the Concessionaire (Timor Port S.A.), together with the Government representatives and China Harbour Timor Lda, have implemented strict and specific preventive measures to ensure the safety and health of the workers and raise awareness on infection prevention and control, in order to avoid the spreading of Covid-19 among the workforce in the project site, quarry, concrete batching plant, workers camp and project office.

These measures currently include the following; All access gates to the construction site, quarry, concrete batching plant and camp are closed. Permitted access gates will be manned by 2 security personnel and all workers entering these sites will compulsorily get their body temperature checked at the entries, sanitize their hands and use face masks. All working staff will have to strictly follow the safe/social distancing practice of at least one meter apart from each other in these sites. Cleaning and disinfection will be carried out, of all commonly touched objects by staff members such as door knobs, water dispenser valve head, lavatories, water tap head, cistern handles, switches, office equipment and site machineries like crane control buttons, control handle, steering wheels and other portable tools. Visitors who are not directly related to the site are not permitted entry. Sub-contractors, vendors and suppliers representatives who deliver materials or provide services to the site will be health screened at the point of entries.. For foreign workers who stayed at the camp , no outings are permitted save for some unavoidable cases if strictly necessary Any suspected Covid-19 case will follow the relevant emergency response as required by the Government of Timor-Leste, among others.

With these strict measures in place and close cooperation between them, all parties involved in the project are doing their utmost to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on the Tibar Bay Port project and to ensure the health and safety of all those involved.