Government Notice No. 58 of 2021
THE QUARANTINE ACT 2020
Regulations made by the Minister under section 13 of the Quarantine Act 2020
1. Short title
These regulations may be cited as the COVID-19 (Preventive and Sanitary Measures) Regulations 2021.
2. Interpretation
In these regulations –
“Act” means the Quarantine Act 2020;
“COVID-19” means the virus known as the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
3. Application of regulations
The sanitary measures specified in these regulations shall be observed with a view to preventing further spread of COVID-19.
4. Wearing of protective mask
(1) Every person shall, in any place, other than in his ordinary place of residence –
(a) wear a protective mask over his nose and mouth;
(b) ensure that every child aged 5 and above in his company, wears a protective mask over the child’s nose and mouth’
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply –
(a) when a person travels alone in a private vehicle or where the driver and every other passenger in the
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private vehicle ordinarily live together in the same place of residence;
(b) when lawfully directed by another person to remove the protective mask in order to ascertain the identity of the person or child;
(c) when carrying out, in the course of his employment, an activity that requires that no protective mask may be worn, or that it shall be removed in order that other equipment may be worn or used, to carry out that activity.
5. Social and physical distancing rules
(1) Every person shall in any place, other than in his ordinary place of residence, strictly observe the social and physical distancing rules specified in this regulation.
(2) Every person shall, at all times on any premises including commercial premises, offices and buildings, keep a distance of at least one metre from any other person, except where the person is in company of child under the age of 12.
(3) No person shall, without reasonable excuse –
(a) sit on a seat that is not fixed to the floor and that is less than one metre away from another seated person in a public place;
(b) sit on a fixed seat in a public place which is demarcated as not to be occupied; or
(c) stand in a queue less than one metre away from any other person in the queue in a public place.
(4) Every employer shall ensure that appropriate measures are in place to implement the social and physical distancing rules specified in this regulation.
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6. Good hygiene practices
Every person shall, whether in his ordinary place of residence, in a public place, at his workplace and any other premises, ensure that he disinfects his hands regularly using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, where same is available.
7. Hygiene products, cleaning and waste disposal (1) At any place of work, every employer shall –
(a) provide to his employees –
(i) hygiene products; and
(ii) rubbish bins for the disposal of waste;
(b) ensure that waste is regularly disposed of; and
(c) ensure that the place of work, including used surfaces such as benchtops, desks and doorknobs, is regularly cleaned and disinfected.
(2) In this section –
“hygiene products” includes soap, hand sanitisers and tissue paper.
8. Any person who breaches regulation 4 or 5 shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 500,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.
9. The Prevention of Resurgence and Further Spread of Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 are revoked.
10. These regulations shall come into operation on 1 April 2021. Made by the Minister on 31 March 2021.
