Decision of the Prime Minister No. 11 of 2020 “Emergency”

Decision of the Prime Minister No. 11 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. 4 of 2020 Concerning the Declaration of the State of Emergency,

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

Based upon my authorisation of the powers and competences 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

All governorates of the homeland shall be locked down. Movement to and from them shall be completely banned. Citizens in towns, villages, and refugee camps shall be prevented from accessing city centres except in accordance with the provisions of this Decision.

Article 2

All the directorates and offices of ministries and official departments shall be closed down throughout the governorates of the homeland, with the exception of the directorates and offices of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Economy, Ministry of Social Development, General Authority of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government, Land Authority, and Land and Water Settlement Commission.

Article 3

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

Article 4

1. Gathering, celebrations, demonstrations, strikes, crowding, meetings, Iftars [meals for breaking fast] and banquets of Ramadan in halls, public places, restaurants, and special events facilities, funeral houses, wedding halls, group prayers and gathering for any other reason, shall be banned throughout the territory of the State.

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

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

Article 5

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 6

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

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

1. Home quarantine shall be imposed on all workers returning from inside the Green Line for a period of fourteen days in accordance with the instructions issued forth by the competent authorities in this respect.

2. Each person who shows symptoms of COVID-19 must contact the closest health centre immediately in order to take necessary health and medical measures.

3. Workers inside the Green Line shall be prohibited from commuting daily between their workplaces and places of residence so that special arrangements can be implemented regarding their return in accordance with the health measures, which ensure maintaining their and their families’ health and safety.

4. Work in settlements shall be prohibited under any circumstances.

5. All workers must abide by the health instructions issued forth by the competent authorities of the State for combating and preventing the outbreak of COVID-19. Each person who violates any such instructions shall be subject to the penalties provided for under the Law by Decree No. 7 of 2020 Concerning the State of Emergency.

Article 9

Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Decision, in accordance with the provisions of the General Health Protocol on Public Health and Safety Preventive Measures to be applied by institutions, commercial premises, occupations, drivers of public transport vehicles and citizens, which has been approved and issued forth in this regard, work shall be permitted as follows:

1. In relation to the following sectors, for seven days a week in the governorates of Nablus, Jericho, Tubas, Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqiliya, and Salfit, as well as the governorates of the Gaza Strip, as follows:

a. Economic establishments operating in the agriculture sector, food supplies, vehicle repair and maintenance workshops, hardware stores, and individual occupations from 10:00 am until 7:30 pm.

b. Shops selling clothes, shoes, accessories, and telecommunications and internet devices from 10:00 am until 7:30 pm.

c. Private vehicles to travel from a governorate to another between the governorates specified under this Paragraph, provided that the number of passengers does not exceed three, including the vehicle driver.

2. In relation to the following sectors in the governorates of Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron, as follows:

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

b. Groceries and shops selling food supplies from 10:00 am until 7:30 pm, provided that they close down completely on Friday every week.

c. Shops selling clothes, shoes, accessories, telecommunications and internet devices, and home appliances on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday every week from 10:00 am until 7:30 pm.

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

3. In relation to the following sectors throughout governorates of the homeland as follows:

a. Regular courts in accordance with the instructions issued forth by the Chairman of the Transitional High Judicial Council, provided that they are limited to considering the decisions on detention, motions for release, and restitution requests for detention warrants in judgement enforcement actions, and hearing of the offences committed in violation of the provisions of state of emergency and decisions issued forth thereon.

b. Practicing lawyers only to argue cases in regular courts for the purposes mentioned under Clause (a) of this Paragraph. They shall present the valid legal profession licence and the evidence of the session or motion.

c. The stock exchange, provided that safety conditions are observed and health instructions are complied with in its operations.

d. Administrative staff of higher education institutions, provided that staff members are residents of the same governorate.

e. Barber and beauty shops for both men and women on Friday and Saturday every week, by prior reservation. No more than two persons may be present [at once].

f. Construction workshops and works, provided that the announced health conditions and preventive measures are observed.

g. Goldsmiths and jewellers on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday every week.

h. Public transportation: Movement shall be allowed within the cities, villages, towns, and refugee camps of the same governorate, by the means of public transportation: by four-passenger taxis (only two passengers per trip in addition to the driver); by seven-passenger service taxis (only four passengers in addition to the driver); and 25-passenger minibuses (12 passengers in addition to the driver).

4. All the categories mentioned in this Article must observe safety, health and preventive conditions in the performance of their operations and oblige their employees and workers to use the means of protection, including facemasks, gloves, and sanitisers.

5. The working hours for the sectors provided for under this Decision shall be from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm on the working days of each sector during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

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

7. All the persons authorised to work or go out of the house must adhere to using gloves and wearing facemasks. Premises and establishments authorised to work must provide means of protection to their employees and customers, and they must comply with health instructions, particularly distancing between citizens.

8. Movement to and from the governorates of Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Hebron shall be banned, except for the purposes of commercial transportation only.

Article 10

The factories which produce items and products for the purposes of exportation shall be allowed to operate. They shall observe health conditions and preventive measures and comply with the health instructions issued forth by the competent authorities.

Article 11

Insurance companies and banks shall be allowed to operate, employing all staff, in all the governorates of Gaza and the governorates of Nablus, Qalqiliya, Tulkarem, Jenin, Jericho, Salfit, and Tubas, but within the limits of sixty percent (60%) of their capacity in the other governorates.

Article 12

The Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Finance, Social Development, and Local Government shall assist and support the Palestinian security forces in the enforcement of safety and preventive measures, under the supervision of governor.

Article 13

Each governor, in their governorate, shall be mandated to implement the procedures provided for under this Decision together with the rest of the State agencies and institutions in the governorates. They shall establish necessary control and inspection teams in each governorate to ensure the application of health protocols, through weekly programmes of inspection and control over all the sectors permitted to operate in accordance with this Decision.

Article 14

In governmental procurements, full preference shall be given to local products, including conforming local medical and health products needed to combat the spread of and prevent viruses.

Article 15

1. All the Palestinian security forces, each one within 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.

2. In accordance with the legislation in force, 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 16

Each person who violates a provision of this Decision shall be subject to the penalties prescribed under the decisions issued forth in this regard, as well as to the penalties provided for under the Law by Decree No. 7 of 2020 Concerning the State of Emergency, as the occasion may be.

Article 17

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

Article 18

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 May 5^th, 2020 Anno Domini,

Corresponding to Ramadan 12^th, 1441 Anno Hegira.

Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh

Prime Ministe