The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Mauritius in March 2020. Since the first three cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, the Mauritian authorities have been conducting 'Contact tracing': people who have been in contact with infected patients have been placed under quarantine, including doctors, nurses and police officers. No cases have been reported in Agaléga and St. Brandon. Mauritius scored 100 in the Oxford University COVID-19 government response tracker. No new cases through local transmission has been detected in Mauritius since 26 April 2020, since then, all the new cases which were reported on the island were imported cases from passengers who were repatriated to Mauritius and were admitted to quarantine centers upon their arrival. On 29 May 2020, the Mauritian government announced the end of lockdown as from 30 May 2020 at 00.00. However, some restrictions was still imposed on certain activities, in public spaces and public gatherings. On 12 June 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the decision was taken to lift all business and activity lockdowns ordered earlier to cope with the COVID-19, as from Monday 15 June 2020. Consequently, beaches, markets, gyms, parks, Village Halls, Community Centres, cinema and other public places became accessible to the public but the wearing of masks and social distancing will still be compulsory. Schools resumed as from 1 July 2020. As at 12 June 2020, 10% of the population were already tested with a total of 142,889 tests: 32,257 PCR tests and 110,632 Rapid Tests.
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Mauritius in March 2020. Since the first three cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, the Mauritian authorities have been conducting 'Contact tracing': people who have been in contact with infected patients have been placed under quarantine, including doctors, nurses and police officers. No cases have been reported in Agaléga and St. Brandon. Mauritius scored 100 in the Oxford University COVID-19 government response tracker. No new cases through local transmission has been detected in Mauritius since 26 April 2020, since then, all the new cases which were reported on the island were imported cases from passengers who were repatriated to Mauritius and were admitted to quarantine centers upon their arrival. On 29 May 2020, the Mauritian government announced the end of lockdown as from 30 May 2020 at 00.00. However, some restrictions was still imposed on certain activities, in public spaces and public gatherings. On 12 June 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the decision was taken to lift all business and activity lockdowns ordered earlier to cope with the COVID-19, as from Monday 15 June 2020. Consequently, beaches, markets, gyms, parks, Village Halls, Community Centres, cinema and other public places became accessible to the public but the wearing of masks and social distancing will still be compulsory. Schools resumed as from 1 July 2020. As at 12 June 2020, 10% of the population were already tested with a total of 142,889 tests: 32,257 PCR tests and 110,632 Rapid Tests.
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than that of SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.
Timeline
January 2020
As at 23 January 2020, passengers inbound from China were admitted to quarantine center. This measure was extended to other Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan.
On 24 January 2020, all passengers irrespective of their nationality, travelling from Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China or who have visited Wuhan during the last 14 days were immediately admitted in the Quarantine Ward of the New Souillac Hospital for observation. Passengers, irrespective of their Nationality, coming from other provinces of China and who are not showing any signs or symptoms suggestive of the infection at the airport (for example, fever or cough) was allowed to leave the airport but placed under surveillance for a period of 14 days. Passengers, irrespective of their Nationality, coming from other provinces of China and who are showing signs and symptoms of the infection upon arrival at the airport were immediately admitted at the isolation ward of the New Souillac Hospital for further investigation and management. The Ministry of Health and Wellness requested all tour operators in Mauritius not to accept any passengers from Wuhan, more so, as the Chinese Authorities are preventing Chinese citizens from entering or leaving Wuhan City.
On 28 January 2020, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Jagutpal, pointed out that all passengers will have to provide a valid address in order to facilitate screening of symptomatic cases by Health inspectors. As at that date, there was nine symptomatic cases, two people who returned from China and the other seven have been put in the Quarantine Ward of the Souillac hospital. He confirmed that these people do not have coronavirus.
On 31 January 2020, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, effected a site visit at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport to take stock of the measures that were taken by his Ministry following the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus in China. The minister Jagutpal expressed his satisfaction concerning the screening measures put in place at the airport and welcomed the collaboration of all the airport agencies for the smooth running of this health monitoring. He reassured that all thermal scanners are effective and that the concerned authorities must continue on the defined set of measures put in place regarding the screening process until the end of the current crisis.
February 2020
On 2 February 2020, twelve Mauritian nationals (including one infant) was evacuated, from Wuhan following the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus in China. The Mauritians was taken to a seaside holiday camp at Carry-le-Rouet, near Marseille, in France, where they were kept in quarantine for 14 days. Thereafter, arrangements was made for them to travel to Mauritius. Two of the 14 Mauritian nationals who initially requested evacuation from Wuhan decided to stay back.
On 3 February 2020, all passengers travelling from China was invariably and systematically being put on surveillance (quarantine or isolation) for a period of 14 days; passengers and staff members travelling by cruise ships and private yachts were automatically subjected to body temperature check both on departure and arrival; and surveillance was carried out for all crew members of cargo ships including fishing vessels.
On 4 February 2020, a temporary ban on the importation of live animals, live fish and products of animal origin from China was imposed, following the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus.
On 11 February 2020, the Minister of Health and Welfare indicated that 57 people was placed in quarantine, 28 at New Souillac Hospital and 29 at Anse-La-Raie Youth Centre.
On 28 February 2020, foreign passengers coming from or having stayed in Italy and Iran during the last 14 days were not allowed to enter Mauritius. As for Mauritians coming from these countries, they were automatically placed in quarantine for a period of two weeks.
March 2020
On 16 March 2020, Mauritius extended travel restrictions for a period of two weeks on foreign passengers coming from or having transited during the last 14 days in countries of the European Union, including the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Also, all foreign passengers coming or transiting from Reunion Island were not allowed to enter Mauritius for the next two weeks. As for Mauritians coming from these countries, they were automatically placed in quarantine for a period of two weeks.
On 18 March 2020, the Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth confirmed that there were three cases of COVID-19 in Mauritius.
On 19 March 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the country would be under "sanitary" lockdown for two weeks as from 6:00 AM on 20 March 2020. During the lockdown, only the essential services (police, hospitals, dispensaries, private clinics, firefighters) and certain economic activities (shops, banks, supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies) and minimum public transport service would operate. The Mauritian government received the help of several hotels around the island, as at 19 March 2020, at least 1700 hotel rooms had been provided to place people under quarantine. On the same day, an incident was reported at Beau-Bassin Prison, prisoners wanted to leave the prisons, the Special Supporting Unit (SSU) and Groupement d'Intervention de la Police Mauricienne (GIPM) had to intervene. Sixteen prison officers were injured.
On 20 March 2020, the Government of Mauritius announced that a COVID-19 Work Access Permit would be granted by the Monitoring Committee – COVID-19 to employers in specific sectors. This would allow their employees to move to their workplaces.
On 24 March 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the country would be under complete lock-down until 31 March 2020 with only essential services such as police, hospitals, dispensaries, private clinics, firefighters and banks being open. All other activities would be banned during the curfew period. He also announced that all supermarkets, shops and bakeries would also be closed until 31 March 2020. Following rumors on social media that a group of individuals were planning to attack supermarkets, the Special Mobile Force (SMF) quickly secured all major supermarkets around the island. A man posted on Facebook claiming that a supermarket and police station were already under attack, he later apologized and said that he had misinterpreted the information that he received. The man was arrested by the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) on the same night for publishing fake news.
On 26 March 2020, the government set up the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund, whose collected funds would be used to help people who have been affected by the pandemic. A mobile application named "beSafeMoris" was launched by the Ministry of Technology and Ministry of Health. The App provides latest news along with measures to prevent the proliferation of coronavirus. The Deputy Commissioner of Police reported that 175 people had been charged for not respecting the curfew. The Chief Commissioner of Rodrigues, Serge Clair announced that all flights to Rodrigues island would be suspended until further notice. The Supreme Court of Mauritius issued a communique to inform the public that all courts will be closed and Magistrates will be available through electronic devices for urgent matters such as request for bail, cancellation of arrest warrant and protection orders for children and victims of domestic violence.
On 30 March 2020, the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, announced that the sanitary curfew which started on 23 March at 20 00 hours will be extended until 15 April 2020. He also announced that supermarkets, excluding bakeries, would restart operations as from 2 April 2020. Customers will be allowed to enter supermarkets as per the alphabetical order of their names during specific days. It will be compulsory to bring their National Identity cards, wear masks and basic essential products would be limited to three units per person.
April 2020
On 3 April 2020, the European Union contributed MUR 11.3 million to the Covid-2019 Solidarity Fund. As at 3 April 2020, MUR 28,025,759 had been collected.
On 5 April 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that 231 tonnes of equipment, including masks, overalls and other protective accessories for healthcare staff from Guangzhou and Beijing would be reaching Mauritius as from 10 April 2020.
On 9 April 2020, the Mauritius Revenue Authority reported that out of 160,000 applications received for the Self Employed Scheme, more than 80,000 self-employed individuals already received MUR 5,100 and 11,000 employers benefited from the Wage Assistance Scheme. The Mauritius Export Association (MEXA) reported that its members already produced 300,000 protective masks against the COVID-19.
On 9 April 2020, the Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, during a videoconference from his residence, announced that the lockdown will be extended to Monday 4 May 2020, to further contain the spread of the COVID-19 in the country. With regard to Rodrigues and Agalega islands, the lockdown will end on 15 April 2020, barring the education sector.
On 13 April 2020, IBL Ltd launched the COVID-19 HealthBot, it is a chatbot which allows users to know if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
On 15 April 2020, India sent 13 tonnes of medication and 500,000 Hydroxychloroquine tablets to Mauritius. Mauritius was among the first countries to receive supplies of this medicine after a special exemption was granted by India. On that day, a second donation of medical equipments from Jack Ma arrived in Mauritius.
As at 23 April 2020, a total of 8,304 fines for alleged breaches of COVID-19 lockdown laws were issued since the unprecedented emergency measures were announced on 23 March 2020 to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the country. However, despite the curfew measures and the Police Force's best efforts, it was observed that many people refused to follow instructions. Consequently, the Police Force reinforced and reorganise its patrol operations and became more stringent against the non-compliance of curfew order.