Prevention and Mitigation of Infectious Disease (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020(Part 1 of 2)

Pursuant to the lockdown in the Republic of Mauritius, the Head of State of the country through the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation announced measures to be adopted during the confinement period of all Homo Sapiens on Mauritian grounds. In order for the state to have the legal framework to operate, co-ordinate, mitigate and prevent the spread of our invisible enemy, the Prevention and Mitigation of Infectious Disease(Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 has been adopted on the 20th March 2020.

This article will be in the form of a question and answer format so that all the essentials of this new Regulation is easily understood by everyone.

 

Question No 1: To whom does this Regulation apply?

This Regulation applies to everyone on any territory of the Republic of Mauritius.

 

Question No 2: Are there any other regulations/acts of parliament that complement this newly adopted Regulation?

Yes, the Quarantine Regulations ,the Quarantine Act and the Public Health Act.

 

Question No 3: What is the outcome of any conflict in interpretation with the Prevention and Mitigation of Infectious Disease(Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 and the Quarantine Regulations 1953?

The newly adopted regulations shall prevail and have authority over the Quarantine Regulations 1953.

 

Question No 4:What is the definition of isolation?

Isolation means the segregation and the separation from, and interdiction of communication with, persons who are infected with coronavirus.

 

Question No 5: What is the definition of a Screening Assessment under the Regulations?

A screening assessment requires a person to :-

1. answer questions about his health and travel history including information about the persons with whom he may have travelled or had contact;
2. produce any document which may assist the medical practitioner to assess his health;
3. allow the medical practitioner to take his biological sample, including  sample if his respiratory secretions or blood by appropriate means;
4. provide his contact details or such other sufficient information so that he may be contacted immediately.

Where this screening assessment concerns a child(person under 18) then the parent of the child shall provide all the necessary information as described above.

 

Question No 6: What is the definition of Quarantine?

Quarantine means the separation from persons who may be infected with coronavirus. It is a state, period, or place of isolation as defined above in which people which have been exposed or could have been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed.

 

 

Question No 7: What are the rights of a person either in isolation or in Quarantine?

A medical practitioner not below the rank of a Regional Public Health Superintendent, as soon as is reasonably practicable shall inform the person of:-

1. the reason of him being quarantined or isolated;
2. the powers under which he is quarantined or isolated;
3. the next steps that may be taken and by whom;
4. the penalty for absconding or attempting to abscond from the place of quarantine/isolation, providing false or misleading information and obstructing a person in the discharge of his functions.

 

Question No 8: What happens to a person infected with coronavirus?

Where a person is infected with coronavirus, a medical practitioner, not below the rank of Regional Public Health Superintendent, shall cause the person to be isolated. The medical practitioner shall also cause the person to undergo a screening assessment and may impose a restriction or condition on the person that the medical practitioner deems fit in the circumstances.

 

Question No 9: What are the conditions and restrictions that can be imposed on a person under the supervision of Ministry of Health?

The conditions shall be as follows:-

1. supply information to a medical practitioner which may assist in assessing his health;
2. allow the medical practitioner to take his biological sample, including  sample if his respiratory secretions or blood by appropriate means;
3. comply with any other specified condition or to take any other specified measure which include a restriction on his travel, a restriction on his daily activities and a restriction to be in contact with specified persons.

The period for which a restriction is imposed shall not exceed 14 days beginning with the day on which the restriction is imposed but please note that this may be varied if circumstances demand so. Where the restriction/condition as stated above is directed towards a child( person under 18) then the parent of the child shall ensure that the child complies with same. Where conditions/restrictions are imposed orally on a person, as soon as reasonably practicable, that person shall be provided with a  written notification of the restriction or condition that has been imposed or varied.

 

Question No 10:What happens to a person suspected of being infected with coronavirus?

Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person may be infected with coronavirus, the person shall be quarantined. During the Quarantine the person will undergo a screening and conditions/restrictions may be imposed on him/her.

 

Question No 11:What will happen to someone arriving to Mauritius from Abroad?

 

That person shall be quarantined,undergo screening and conditions/restrictions may be imposed on him/her.

 

Question No 12: What happens to a person having had contact with another person infected with coronavirus?

That person shall be quarantined,undergo screening and conditions/restrictions may be imposed on him/her.

 

Question No 13: Where are the places of Quarantine or Isolation to be found?

 

The place of quarantine or isolation shall be any place designated by the Minster of Health and this may include the person's home also.

 

Please note that Part 2 of 2 of this article will be published soon.