Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 Maintains Previous Measures, Extends School Closure
The Inter-Ministerial Committee in Charge of Monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic met, on 11 December 2020, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Bilal Messoud, in open session since last Wednesday to assess the evolution of the health situation in the country.
The Committee noted, in the reports submitted by the various authorities concerned, the spread of infections and the increase in deaths, despite the remarkable stability of the general figures and rates related to the increase of the pandemic.
In view of the epidemiological data and in support of the efforts made so far to limit the spread of the disease, and to respect the minimum scientific deadlines for obtaining data allowing a serious assessment of the health situation, the committee has decided to:
1- renew the measures taken during the previous meeting of the Council of Ministers, as they are, until further notice;
2- maintain the closure of schools, universities, institutes and Mahadras (Quranic schools) until 4 January 2021;
3- tighten the preventive measures in the event of death associated with COVID-19.
In fact, the epidemiological monitoring committees have noted that most of the infections and contacts occur during mortuary procedures (transport, toilet, and burial of the victims of the pandemic).
Therefore, the committee has decided to instruct the ministries of health, Islamic affairs, and interior to start working today to develop a special and strict procedure (protocol) which includes the following:
1- Prohibiting the transport of corpses outside cemeteries close to the geographical area;
2- Ensuring the provision of religious accompaniment to guarantee the implementation of all the mandatory procedures required by Islamic law in terms of toilet, funeral prayer, and burial of the dead by the Association of Mauritanian Scholars and Imams.
3. Making sure that all health measures are respected to prevent the spread of the virus at this stage;
The Inter-ministerial Committee calls on all citizens to actively participate in the fight against this pandemic.