Decision of the Prime Minister No. 9 of 2020 “Emergency”

Decision of the Prime Minister No. 9 of 2020

“Emergency”

The Prime Minister,

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

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 Law by Decree No. 7 of 2020 Concerning the State of Emergency, particularly the provisions of Article 1 thereunder,

The Presidential Decree No. 3 of 2020 Concerning the Extension of the State of Emergency,

The Law by Decree No. 9 of 2020 Concerning the Approval of the Extension of the State of Emergency,

Based upon our delegation of authority and powers necessary to achieve the purposes of the declaration of the state of emergency,

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

1. The applicable medical and preventive measures shall continue to be enforced to counter COVID-19, taking into account introducing some facilities in relation to the engagement in certain activities of occupations, industrial establishments and geographical localities.

2. The facilities referred to under Paragraph 1 of this Article shall take account of the following criteria:

a. Health criteria, which can enable us to control the spread of COVID-19 by fulfilling and observing the health conditions announced by the competent authorities, avoiding overcrowding, [keeping the] distance between workers at the workplace, carrying out sanitisation on a continuous basis, and prohibiting visits to patients at all hospitals.

b. Economic criteria, which can drive the economy and production gradually at production enterprises specialising in the manufacturing and production of food, pharmaceutical and agricultural items, as well as certain service sectors and self-employed businesses.

c. Security criteria, which ensure that governorates of the homeland continue to be isolated from one another, enforce the effective legislation concerning the state of emergency, and allow the competent security agencies to perform respective operations.

3. The movement of commercial goods and commodities, agricultural products, food supplies and medicines between governorates on external roads shall remain as it is, taking into account the use of preventive health measures and compliance with the health instructions in this regard.

4. Confectionery shops shall be allowed to operate during the holy month of Ramadan throughout governorates of the homeland, provided that they engage in their business by means of external sales orders without receiving the public, observe safety conditions and health instructions issued forth by the competent authorities.

Article 2

1. The following sectors in the governorates of Jericho, Tubas, Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqiliya, Salfit and Nablus, as well as the governorates of the Gaza Strip, shall be allowed to operate as follows:

a. Economic establishments operating in the agriculture sector, food supplies, construction materials, vehicle repair and maintenance workshops, hardware stores, and individual occupations from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

b. Shops selling clothes, shoes, accessories, telecommunications and internet devices on Friday and Saturday every week.

c. Construction and building works

d. Passenger vehicles (taxis), provided that the number of passengers per trip does not exceed one passenger only, or two passengers who are members of a single family in the rear seat.

2. All the sectors mentioned under this Article must observe the safety measures and health and preventive conditions in the performance of their businesses, oblige their employees and workers to use protection equipment, including masks, gloves and sanitisers.

3. Shops selling food supplies and groceries shall be closed on Friday every week.

4. The working hours of the sectors provided for under this Article shall be from 10:00 am until 7:30 pm on the working days of each sector during the holy month of Ramadan.

5. Each person who violates the provisions of this Article shall be punished by shutting down his establishment, factory or shop in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 3

The following sectors in the governorates of Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron shall be allowed to operate as follows:

1. Pharmaceutical and food processing factories, provided that the percentage of workers does not exceed fifty percent (50%) of their staff in the normal circumstances.

2. Pharmacies and bakeries shall continue to [operate] in accordance with previously applicable [procedures]. Groceries and shops selling food supplies shall be closed on Friday every week.

3. Shops selling clothes, shoes, accessories, telecommunications and internet devices on Friday and Saturday every week.

4. Vehicle repair workshops, hardware stores, carpenters and blacksmiths’ workshops, and other self-employed businesses [shall operate] on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday every week, not exceeding three workers in each.

5. Construction works outside major cities in the governorates identified under this Articles in accordance with the working hours announced.

Article 4

1. The factories that produce items and products for the purposes of exportation shall be allowed to operate, not exceeding fifty percent (50%) of their workers and employees. They shall observe health conditions and preventive measures and comply with the health instructions issued forth by the competent authorities.

2. Mosques, churches, places of worship, funeral homes, wedding halls, social occasions, festivals, group banquets of all kinds, and all places which feature gathering and crowd shall be kept closed.

3. All nurseries, kindergartens, schools, universities, institutes and vocational centres shall continue to be closed throughout the homeland. Special remedial programmes shall be applied in accordance with the clarifications to be issued forth by the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Article 5

The general secondary education exams shall be held on May 30, 2020, in accordance with the arrangements and procedures to be issued forth by the Minister of Education in this regard, in order to ensure observation of public health and safety requirements and maintain security.

Article 6

1. Labourers who work inside the Green Line shall be prohibited from moving on a daily basis between their workplaces and places of residence until such time special arrangements concerning their return are conducted in line with the health measures that safeguard their and their families’ health and safety.

2. Work in settlements shall be prohibited in any case whatsoever.

Article 7

1. The stock exchange shall be opened as of May 3, 2020, provided that safety conditions are observed and health instructions are complied with in its operations.

2. Insurance companies and banks shall be allowed to operate in the governorates of Gaza and the governorates of Nablus, Qalqiliya, Tulkarem, Jenin, Jericho and Salfit within the limits of sixty percent (60%) of their capacity, and in accordance with the state of emergency as is currently applicable in the governorates of Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Hebron.

Article 8

Work at ministries and government institutions and departments shall remain as applicable in pursuance of my previous decisions, provided that the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Finance, Social Development and Local Government provide assistance and support to the security forces in the enforcement of the safety and prevention measures, under the direction of the governor.

Article 9

Each person who violates a provision of this Decision shall be subject to the penalties prescribed under the Law by Decree No. 7 of 2020 Concerning the State of Emergency.

Article 10

All provisions that contradict the provisions of this Decision shall be repealed.

Article 11

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 April 20^th, 2020 Anno Domini,

Corresponding to Sha’ban 26^th, 1441 Anno Hegira.

Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh

Prime Minister