Decision of the Prime Minister No. 20 of 2020 “Emergency”

Decision of the Prime Minister No. 20 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. 6 of 2020 Concerning the Declaration of the State of Emergency,

The provisions of the Presidential Decree No. 8 of 2020 Concerning the Extension of the State of Emergency,

The provisions of the Law by Decree No. 25 of 2020 Concerning the Approval of the Extension of the State of Emergency,

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

Based upon the powers authorised to me in my capacity as the Prime Minister,

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 following shall be allowed:

a. Movement and access between the governorates, cities, villages, towns, and refugee camps of the homeland from 7:00 am to 12:00 am.

b. Operation of commercial and industrial institutions, premises and establishments, all occupations, and means of transportation from 7:00 am to 12:00 am.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph 1 of this Article, restaurants, coffee shops, and sports clubs shall operate under a pledge to be submitted by respective owners to the governors, stating compliance with the implementation of the provisions of the General Health Protocol and with an operating capacity of not more than fifty percent (50%) of their usual capacity.

3. For the purposes of enforcing the provisions of Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, the provisions of the approved General Health Protocol, which regulates public health and safety preventive measures to be applied by commercial and industrial institutions, premises and establishments, all occupations, drivers of public transportation vehicles, and citizens, must be complied with and abided by.

Article 2

1. It shall be forbidden to organise wedding parties, celebrations of all types and forms, or to hold funeral houses, festivals or gatherings throughout the homeland.

2. Field monitoring and inspection committees shall be tasked with following up on the implementation of the provisions of Paragraph 1 of this Article in cities, villages, and refugee camps. To this avail, they shall be entitled to take all the procedures which ensure that in due form.

Article 3

1. All the governorates, cities, towns, villages, and refugee camps of the homeland shall be locked down and movement and access to and from them shall be banned as of 9:00 pm on Thursday to 7:00 am on Sunday every week, with the exception of bakeries and pharmacies.

2. The cities, villages, refugee camps, and neighbourhoods, which are infected by COVID-19, shall be locked down. Quarantine shall be imposed on citizens therein in accordance with the effective laws and instructions issued forth in this regard.

Article 4

Compulsory quarantine shall be enforced and applied to each person who is proven to have contracted COVID-19 or the contacts of infected persons. They shall be banned from going out of their homes and quarantine facilities except when instructions are issued forth by the competent authorities.

Article 5

For the purposes of enforcing and complying with the provisions of this Decision:

1. By a decision from the Council of Ministers, a “Daily Field Monitoring Committee for Combatting COVID-19” shall be established. Chaired by the Security Assistant to the Minister of Interior, its membership shall include a number of competent ministries and institutions.

2. By a decision from the Council of Ministers, “Field Monitoring and Inspection Committees” shall be established. Chaired by the governor and under the field leadership of the Police, their membership shall include representatives of competent ministries and institutions.

3. Emergency committees in governorates shall be reinstated to provide assistance to medical teams. Control shall be intensified to ensure public safety.

Article 6

1. Workers inside the Green Line shall be prohibited from commuting daily between their places of residence and workplaces.

2. All workers shall be banned from working inside settlements.

Article 7

Each head of government department shall determine the number of employees to perform the tasks required at headquarters and call them to resume work thereat. Excluded from this shall be the infected areas, where they and the rest of employees shall be assigned to work in the directorates, each in their own governorate, ensuring that the role of directorates in providing services to citizens is strengthened, while taking account of public health and safety measures.

Article 8

1. Each person who violates any of the provision of this Decision shall be subject to the penalties provided for under the Law by Decree No. 7 of 2020 Concerning the State of Emergency and the pieces of legislation and decisions issued forth in accordance with it.

2. In addition to any other penalty prescribed under the pieces of legislation and decisions in force, any premise of those provided for under Paragraphs 1(b) and 2 of Article 1 of this Decision shall be closed down for a maximum period of one month when it violates any of the provisions of this Decision.

Article 9

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 August 4^th, 2020 Anno Domini,

Corresponding to Thu al-Hijjah 14^th, 1441 Anno Hegira.

Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh

Prime Minister