Business updates

The public is hereby being informed that for the purposes of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Mauritius, Government has decided to extend the Temporary Restrictions of Movement Order 2021 as from Wednesday 31 March 2021 at 8 p.m. to Friday 30 April 2021 at 8 p.m. As such, no person, other than in the Island of Rodrigues, the Island of Agalega, S.t Brandon and the Chagos Archipelago, shall remain outdoor in Mauritius until Friday 30 April 2021 at 8 p.m., except those persons and class of persons mentioned hereunder and those in possession of a Work Access Permit (WAP) issued by the Commissioner of Police under section 3(2) of the Quarantine Act 2020 –
(a) a person who has to avail himself, or to any other member of his family, of medical treatment, or to procure medicine, or any other item essential for his or his family’s subsistence or livelihood;
(b) a person who is, pursuant to the COVID-19 (Closing Down of Premises and Restriction of Activities) Regulations 2021, authorised to be outdoor strictly on allocated days or authorised to carry out specific activities;
(c) employees of the Disciplined Forces while on official duty; (d) a member of the National Assembly, as from 6 a.m. preceding the day of a sitting of the National Assembly until 6 a.m. on the next day of the sitting of the National Assembly, for the purpose of attending a sitting of the National Assembly or any other meeting in relation to the sitting of the National Assembly;
(e) a Judge or Magistrate, or an officer of the Judicial Department, for the purpose of attending Court, in respect of such minimum judicial services as the Chief Justice deems essential, and subject to such directives as the Chief Justice may issue;
(f) a law practitioner whose services have been retained by a person to attend a police station, place of detention or Court sitting;
(g) a medical practitioner for the purpose of attending a hospital or private health institution, or for the purpose of domiciliary visits;
(h) a pharmacist for the purpose of attending his pharmacy; (i) a person who has to avail his pet of veterinary treatment; (j) a person required to attend a Court by virtue of a summons issued by the Court.

2. As from Thursday 01 April 2021, persons who are holders of WAP will be allowed to remain outdoor in the Island of Mauritius for the sole purpose of travelling from their place of residence to their place of work/business and back.

3. However, due to cases of COVID 19 contamination detected in the undermentioned regions, which have been declared Red Zones, strict control will be exercised by the Police-
(a) Curepipe and Midlands (Constituency No.17);
(b) Vacoas and Floreal (Constituency No. 16);
(c) La Caverne and Phoenix (Constituency No. 15), excluding suburbs of Petit Camp, Carreau Laliane, part of Morcellements Chazal and Closel, and part of Phoenix and Bonne Terre as well as the Industrial Zone of Valentina; and
(d) Village of Canot.

EXAMINATIONS
4. No WAP will be required for students proceeding to and coming from examination centres and accompanying responsible party. Students should travel from their place of residence to examination centres, including those found in Red Zones, with their timetable and student ID card or a copy thereof. Students sitting for PSAC examinations and accompanying responsible party should be in possession of their time tables.

WAPs FOR SELF-EMPLOYED
Self-employed registered with MRA
5. MRA will arrange for appropriate procedures for the issue of WAPs for self-employed who are registered with the MRA.

Self-employed not registered with MRA
6. Self-employed who are not registered with MRA, will be assisted by the Citizen Support Unit (CSU) for filling of the online applications for WAP between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays. They should provide details of their National Identity Card and telephone numbers. The following telephone lines are available for assistance –
214 2005
214 1727
201 3530

7. Self-employed whose services are essential and are required to move in and out of the Red Zones should apply for Special WAP.

ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIAL WAPs FOR RED ZONES
8. Employees of public and private sector organisations and private individuals, including traders, business operators, planters and distributors of food and food related items, domestic gas and other products who are essential for the running of the business/work who are required to move in and out of the Red Zones should apply for Special WAPs.

9. Likewise, those residing in the Red Zones and who are required to move out and in to attend to authorised business/work, and are not holders of a WAP, should apply for same on besafemoris.mu. Upon approval, they should apply for the Special WAP.

10. Only holders of approved WAPs are eligible to apply for Special WAPs.

PROCEDURES TO APPLY FOR SPECIAL WAPs
11. Application for Special WAPs should be made on besafemoris.mu. Applicants should provide details of their National Identity Card, approved WAP Permit Number and exact reason/purpose for moving in and out of Red Zones.

COMMERCIAL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
12. For the purposes of preventing a spread of COVID-19 within the Island of Mauritius, the premises listed below shall be closed and remain closed until 30 April 2021 –
o Pre-primary, primary, secondary schools/Tertiary institutions/ Vocational training centres
o Private schools
o Amusement centre
o Aquarium for public viewing
o Bookmaker (other than on-line betting)
o Bar
o Beauty saloon
o Casino and Gaming house
o Theatre
o Nightclub
o Cinema hall
o Multi-purpose hall, including wedding hall
o Fitness centre (gymnasium/sport complex)
o Social hall/Village hall/Municipal hall/Community centre/Social welfare centre/Youth centre/Citizens Advice Bureau
o Leisure park, including health track
o Place of worship

13. The events as listed below shall not be carried out until 30 April 2021 –
o Fair (fun fair/fancy fair/trade fair/commercial fair/market fair)
o Public events
o Sports events or sport activities
o Public auction
o Cultural/social event or any other gathering
o Religious event/ceremony/marriage
o Concert

14. No person shall attend the public places as listed below until 30 April 2021 –
o Public beach/sea, except for a registered fisher holding a fisher’s card
o Public garden
o Children’s playground
o National park and nature reserves
o Recreational/leisure activities

15. Premises as listed below, and other than those not listed at paragraph 11 above, are authorised to be opened to the public as from 01 April 2021 –
o Shopping malls/hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes/meat/poultry/fish shops/ food retail shops/retail shops (magasins) and hair saloons will open on Monday to Saturday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. o Bakeries o Banks will open during their normal bank hours o Hardware stores (Quincailleries) will open up to 6 p.m.
o Courts, in respect of such minimum judicial services as the Chief Justice deems essential and subject to such directives as the Chief Justice may issue o Private health institutions and private medical laboratories o Shop of Opticien-lunetier o Pharmacies o Petrol stations o Port and airport and related businesses o Agro-chemical retail outlets selling agricultural inputs
o Restaurants/fast foods/cafes to be opened only for delivery and takeaway
o Schools, educational institutions and other premises designated as examination centres solely for the purpose of sitting for examinations
o Vehicle examination centres
o Post offices

16. Events or activities as listed below, and other than those not listed in paragraph 12 above, are authorised to be carried out –
o Agricultural and breeding activities
o Fishing activities by registered fishers only
o Construction activities
o Funerals, provided that not more than 10 persons are in attendance at a time
o Civil marriages, provided that not more than 10 persons are in attendance
o Horse racing, to be allowed without public (in camera)
o On-line betting

PREVENTIVE AND SANITARY MEASURES
17. (a) Access to commercial premises such as Markets/shopping malls/hypermarkets/supermarkets/superettes/meat/poultry/fish shops/food retail shops/retail shops (magasins), bank, post offices and hardware shops (Quincailleries) 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 –
(i) citizen of Mauritius, his National Identity Card or passport;
(ii) foreigner, his passport or residence, occupation or work permit.
(b) All customers 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)

18. Commercial premises shall arrange for social distancing markings outside and inside their respective outlets. Outlets at commercial premises 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.

19. Commercial premises will open on Monday to Saturday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Banks will open during their normal banking hours. Commercial premises, except pharmacies and petrol stations, shall remain closed on Sundays.

20. The public is hereby reminded that every person shall, at all times, abide by the(COVID-19) Preventive and Sanitary Measures Regulations 2021.

21. 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 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.

22. 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, officers 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.

OTHER CONDITIONS
23. All activities and premises, except for pharmacies and petrol stations, will be closed on Sundays.

24. The Commissioner of Police may impose conditions on the movement of holders of WAPs and Special WAPs and reserve the right to revoke any permit issued in case of misuse or breach of conditions imposed or false or misleading information provided on the application form.

PENALTY
25. Unauthorised persons found outdoor shall commit an offence under the Quarantine Act 2020 and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 500,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.

Mr K. Servansing, PMSM
31 March, 2021 Commissioner of Police
Office of the Commissioner of Police
Police Headquarters
Line Barracks
Port Louis