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Mozambique Begins Closing Markets for Cleaning and Reorganization to Prevent
COVID-19 Outbreak

VOA News

   The largest market in Mozambique's capital, Maputocity, remainsclosed
   Tuesday, the second day of a three-day sanitizing and reorganization to
   fight the spread of the coronavirus.

   The move at Xipamanine market is the beginning of the gradual temporary
   closing of thecapital's 63markets and five fairs for disinfecting, new
   spacing of stalls, implementation of social distancing between
   merchants and customers, and the wearing of face masks to help prevent
   the spread of the coronavirus.

   The municipal councilor for health and social welfare, Alice de Abreu,
   said Friday duringapressconferencethat the closings are important
   because COVID-19 cases were detected in the city's markets, but she did
   not revealthe name of the markets.

   The reorganization of all the markets is expected to be completed by
   the end of next month.

   The revamping of market operations also comes as the southern African
   country experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases, which increased by 74
   over Friday and Saturday.

   So far, Mozambique has confirmed just over 600 coronavirus cases and
   three deaths.

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