Decision of the Prime Minister No. 1 of 2020 “Emergency”

Decision of the Prime Minister No. 1 of 2020

“Emergency”

The Prime Minister,

In reference of the provisions of the Amended Basic Law of 2003, as amended,

Based upon the powers vested in me in accordance with the provisions of the Presidential Decree No. 1 of 2020 Concerning the Declaration of the State of Emergency throughout the Palestinian Territory to Confront the Threat and Prevent the Outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),

The powers bestowed upon me under the legislation in force,

In preservation of public health and safety, and

In pursuance of the public interest,

Hereby promulgates the following Decision:

Article 1

All educational and vocational facilities, including schools, kindergartens, universities, institutes, centres, and so forth shall be closed.

Article 2

All the employees of ministries and government institutions and departments shall be on duty until other instructions are issued forth in this regard.

Article 3

All the physicians, nurses, and workers in medical and health professions shall be present at their workplaces, take all the precautions, procedures and preparations needed to protect our people and their safety, and confront the threat and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Article 4

Traffic and movement between governorates shall be restricted and limited to cases of utmost necessity only, particularly in the governorate of Bethlehem.

Article 5

Preparations shall be taken to close down the bridges, crossing points and all outlets between the State of Palestine and the rest of the world when necessary.

Article 6

Any phenomena of crowding, gathering, celebrations, demonstrations and strikes shall be banned throughout the territory of the State of Palestine.

Article 7

The full potential of the private sector shall be placed in support of the State’s agencies in their operations and tasks to treat the persons infected with the disease, and combat and prevent the outbreak of COVID-19 during the state of emergency.

Article 8

The competent authorities shall assume their tasks of monitoring merchants’ commitment to displaying the prices declared for commodities and goods, with a view to warding off exploiting the circumstances, raising prices, and monopolising goods and commodities.

Article 9

All bookings at hotels and other tourist facilities, tourism and entertainment programmes and visits by foreign tourists in the State of Palestine shall be cancelled.

Article 10

All tourist and recreational areas and facilities, religious places, and places of worship shall be shut down.

Article 11

Any national or international conferences, workshops, or training sessions in the State of Palestine shall be cancelled.

Article 12

Each governor, in his governorate, shall be mandated to enforce these procedures together with the rest of the States’ competent agencies and institutions in governorates. Follow-up committees from the security forces shall be established and chaired by the governor.

Article 13

Any official shall be prohibited from making any press statements to any agency whatsoever, except in line with an authorisation or permission from the Prime Minister.

Article 14

It shall be prohibited to engage with, report or transmit any rumours or unreliable information. Information must be accessed from relevant official sources only.

Article 15

All the Palestinian security forces, each one in the sphere of its jurisdiction, shall be tasked with securing the enforcement of this Decision and complying with its provisions to the least possible extent and as adequately as to enforce it, while preserving citizens’ political and civil rights, protecting public freedoms and right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Basic Law and international treaties and conventions, which the State of Palestine acceded to, and ensuring respect for private movable and immovable property.

Article 16

All the competent authorities, each one within its sphere of jurisdiction, shall implement the provisions of this Decision, which shall enter into force as of the date of its promulgation and shall be published in the Official Gazette.

Promulgated in the city of Ramallah on March 6^th, 2020 Anno Domini,

Corresponding to Rajab 11^th, 1441 Anno Hegira.

Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh

Prime Minister