Press release

COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS DISEASE) PUBLIC HEALTH (INFECTIOUS DISEASES) REGULATIONS ORDER

May 7, 2020
StateHouse

LEGAL MEASURES UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 2015

New Orders are in force from 4th May until further notice

1. Infectious Disease (Prohibition of Public Assemblies) (No. 4) Order, 2020

2. Infectious Disease (Prohibition of Public Assemblies) (Restriction on opening and closing hours of establishments, trade premises and shops) (No. 3) Order, 2020

3. Infectious Disease (Restriction on entry to, exit from and return to Seychelles) (No. 3) Order, 2020

4. Infectious Disease (Restriction on travel) (No. 3) Order, 2020

Summary of measures that remain in place

A. Public assemblies

1. Every person shall refrain from engaging in or taking part in public assemblies, whether outdoor or indoor. Prohibition of assembly of more than 4 persons in any place, including but not limited to buildings, beaches and roads. This does not apply to the following situations:

  • work at the workplace;
  • attendance of school or school activities;1
  • shopping;
  • access to healthcare facilities;
  • travel at bus stops, bus station, ports or airports;
  • consumption at restaurant or other appropriate trade premises;
  • religious service;
  • funeral service;
  • making use of any other service that is permitted to operate,

2. A person may make an application to the Public Health Commissioner to hold an assembly of more than 4 persons on a specified date and time, and if the application is approved, the Public Health Commissioner may impose such conditions as he deems necessary.

3. No one shall host any private entertainment event such as a house party which includes any person from outside of the immediate household of the house

4. In all situations where people are permitted to be present, the employer, worker, owner, manager, consumer or any person in control of the premises or providing the service must comply with any social or physical distancing and hygiene directives given by the Public Health Commissioner.

B. Sporting activities

5. All sporting and game activities (including the playing of dominoes and cards) are not permitted outside the confines of the person’s place of residence. Sports facilities, including gyms and the outdoor gym located at Beau Vallon beach are closed at present Fitness trails and nature trails are open, provided users maintain distance from each other

C. Restriction on shops and business premises

1. All shops or retail or wholesale outlets shall close from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

  • 2. The following business, trade, activity, trade premises or establishments remain closed to the public or shall not operate: public bar unless the bar is an attendant facility of a restaurant;
  • cinema;
  • casino;
  • gymnasium and fitness centres;
  • night clubs and discotheques;
  • stadiums for sporting events;
  • fairs, fun fairs, fancy fairs, parish fetes;
  • amusement parks;
  • festivals;
  • cultural and musical shows, concerts or performances;
  • trade fairs consisting of exhibition, advertisement or sale or the products of industries or of other materials.

D. International travel restrictions

1. No one is permitted to enter into or exit from Seychelles except with the written authorisation of the Minister for Health

2. A person who is not a citizen of Seychelles who exits Seychelles from 4 th May, 2020, shall undertake not to return to Seychelles for a period of 3 months from the date of exit from Seychelles and the person’s return to Seychelles shall be subject to such further approval from the Minister.

3. Any person entering Seychelles must go into quarantine

4. Any person who is not a citizen of Seychelles and who refuses to undergo medical screening and quarantine will not be permitted to enter Seychelles, and the airline is responsible for returning the person to the place of embarkation.

5. No vessel or aircraft shall enter Seychelles, exit Seychelles or transit in, travel to, or leave Seychelles without the written permission of the Public Health Commissioner in consultation with the relevant public authorities and subject to such restrictions, conditions as may be specified in the permission.

E. Maintenance of physical distancing

1. The owner, manager or operator of a trade premises or public place providing a service to the public shall restrict the number of customers or persons inside the trade premises or public place at any one time so that each customer or person is able to physically and optimally distance himself or herself from any other person (optimal distance means at least one metre, as advised by the Public Health Commissioner)

2. Each person in a public place shall at all times maintain optimal physical distance from another person as part of the observance and promotion of social or physical distancing

F. Penalties for breaches of the Orders

1. Necessary action may be taken against any person who fails to comply with any of these orders;

2. Any person who contravenes an order without reasonable excuse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding SCR 20, 000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both;