General Notice under Regulation 16(1) of the Prevention and Mitigation of Infectious Disease (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020

Jurisdiction
Mauritius
Citation
General Notice 577 of 2020
Date
4 May 2020
Language
English
Type
Legislation
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Mauritius

General Notice under Regulation 16(1) of the Prevention and Mitigation of Infectious Disease (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020

General Notice 577 of 2020

1.WHEREAS regulation 16(1) of the Prevention and Mitigation of the Infectious Disease (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 provides that where it appears to the Minister that premises are being used for any purpose or in any manner which may lead to the spread of coronavirus, he may, by General Notice, order that the premises be closed or remain closed or not to admit customers therein as may be reasonably necessary to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
2.WHEREAS I considered it necessary and expedient, for the purpose of preventing the spread of coronavirus, to limit to the maximum extent practicable outdoor activities by members of the public, I ordered, by virtue of General Notice No. 547 of 2020, that all trading premises should be closed and remain closed until 15 April 2020, except for the premises and in respect of the activities specified in that General Notice.
3.WHEREAS I was satisfied that it was necessary and expedient for the purposes of preventing the spread of coronavirus in the Island of Mauritius, I extended, by virtue of General Notice No. 562 of 2020, that period for the Island of Mauritius from 15 April 2020 to 4 May 2020 and I thereby ordered that all trading premises in the Island of Mauritius, other than in the Island of Rodrigues and the island of Agaléga, shall be closed until 4 May 2020, except for the premises and activities specified therein.
4.NOW, THEREFORE, in view of the fact that I still consider it necessary and expedient to prevent a possible resurgence and further spread of coronavirus in the Island of Mauritius, I further extend that period for the Island of Mauritius from 4 May 2020 to 1 June 2020, and I hereby order that all trading premises in the Island of Mauritius, other than in the Island of Rodrigues and the Island of Agaléga, shall be closed and remain closed until 1 June 2020, except for the following premises and in respect of the following activities -
(a)food and cooking gas distribution and associated logistics;
(b)hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes and food retail shops will, subject to the conditions specified in the Appendix, be opened on Monday to Saturday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. from 5 May 2020 to 1 June 2020;
(c)meat/poultry/fish shops will, subject to the conditions specified in the Appendix, be opened as from 14 May 2020;
(d)bakeries will be opened -
(i)for the sole purpose of preparing and delivering breads to hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes and food retail shops, until 14 May 2020; and
(ii)for the general public, from 14 May 2020 to 1 June 2020, subject to the conditions specified in the Appendix;
(e)banks will, subject to the conditions specified in the Appendix, be opened -
(i)from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., until 14 May 2020; and
(ii)from 14 May 2020 to 1 June 2020, during their normal hours;
(f)hairdressing salons and hardware stores (quincailleries) as from 14 May 2020, subject to the conditions specified in the Appendix;
(g)restaurant/fast food/café for online food order, takeaways and home delivery;
(h)doctors’ offices and medical facilities;
(i)pharmacies and medical supply establishments;
(j)petrol stations;
(k)hotels;
(l)port and airport and related businesses;
(m)security services;
(n)cleaning and scavenging services;
(o)animal breeding and agricultural activities; and
(p)agro-chemical retail outlets selling agricultural inputs.
5.Public sector organisations, including Ministries and Government departments, public enterprises and statutory bodies, shall continue to operate as authorised.
6.A police officer may use such force as may be necessary to ensure compliance with this notice.
7.Traders shall, at all times, observe all sanitary conditions imposed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Traders shall wear protective masks and gloves. Social distancing shall be observed on trade premises.
8.Any person who fails to comply with this notice shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 500 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.
9.This closing down Notice shall lapse on 1 June 2020.Dr. K.K.S. JagutpalMinister of Health and Wellness

Appendix

Conditions for operation of hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes, food retail shops and other authorised activities until 1 June 2020

1.Access to hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes and food retail shops shall be controlled on the principle of alphabetical categorisation of customers. Access to customers thereto shall be granted only on presentation, in case of a -
(a)Mauritius citizen, his National Identity Card or passport;
(b)foreigner, his passport or residence, occupation or work permit.
2.Hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes shall arrange for social distancing markings outside and inside their respective outlets. Outlets at hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes will demarcate queuing lines by way of floor markings. Outlets will also demarcate social distancing inside their premises. Customers shall adhere strictly to these markings.
3.Food retail shops (la boutique) shall also arrange social distancing markings. Shops that will not do social distancing markings shall not be authorised to operate.
4.Hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes and food retail shops will be opened on Monday to Saturday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. from 4 May 2020 to 1 June 2020. All customers (including pensioners and persons with disabilities) will be able to shop strictly on allocated days as indicated hereunder -Surname starting from -A-F (Monday and Thursday)G-N (Tuesday and Friday)O-Z (Wednesday and Saturday)Hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes and food retail shops and meat/poultry/fish shops shall remain closed on Sundays.
5.Limited range of products shall be put for sale. All fresh products and meat should be pre-packed, pre­-weighed and pre-priced (no loose vegetable and fruit shall be available). Bread for sale shall be pre-packed and pre-priced.
6.Some specific categories of products (flour, milk powder, vegetable oil, pasta, toilet paper) shall be pre-packed and sold in units and each customer shall be authorised to buy a maximum of 3 units. Other items, such as rice, shall be subject to the control of each outlet with a view to ensuring continuous supply to customers.
7.Hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes and food retail shops shall provide to their employees masks, gloves and hand sanitisers.
8.Hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes shall provide extra perspex barriers at the tills. Where appropriate, alternate tills must be opened to ensure social distancing.
9.Each person shall be allowed to use only one trolley for purchase of essential supplies.
10.Single traffic flow of customers/one-way system shall be enforced within the hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes.
11.Each customer shall be allowed to stay for a maximum of 30 minutes inside the hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes.
12.Hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes shall ensure that all trolleys and/or baskets are sanitised before delivery to each customer.
13.Customers will have to wear protective masks. Hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes shall provide hand sanitisers at entry and exit.
14.Entry to shops will be refused to a customer showing flu-like symptoms (high temperature, runny nose or coughing).
15.The body temperature of each customer may be taken at the entrance by staff of the hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes. Any customer having high temperature (38°C and above) will be transferred to the nearest hospital according to the Protocol ofthe Ministry of Health and Wellness.
16.One customer per car will be allowed entry to the parking lots of the hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes, except for persons with disabilities who may be accompanied by another adult. The NIC/passport/residence permit/occupation permit/work permit of the individuals will be verified at the entrance of the car park.
17.Persons under the age of 18 shall not be allowed within the premises of hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes and food retail shops.
18.Any person without NIC/passport/residence permit/occupation permit/work permit or not wearing protective masks or coming on the unallocated days, shall be refused access to the premises and the shops.
19.Hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes and food retail shops shall not be allowed to continue to operate in case ofbreach of any of the above conditions.
20.Banks, bakeries, hairdressing salons and hardware shops (quincailleries) will be able to open and operate strictly on allocated days as indicated hereunder -Surname starting from -A-F (Monday and Thursday)G-N (Tuesday and Friday)O-Z (Wednesday and Saturday)
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History of this document

04 May 2020 this version
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Commenced