EMERGENCY POWERS: SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

INDEX TO SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

Emergency (COVID-19) Regulations

EMERGENCY (COVID-19) REGULATIONS

(section 3)

(2nd April, 2020)

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

    REGULATION

PART I
Preliminary

    1.    Citation

    2.    Interpretation

    3.    Application of Regulations

    4.    Taking of possession, control, etc. of property on behalf of the Republic

PART II
Lockdown

    5.    Declaration of lockdown

    6.    Work remotely from home

    7.    Movement of persons during lockdown

    8.    Non-essential travel

    9.    Suspension of transport permits

PART III
Prevention of Introduction or Spread of COVID-19

    10.    Prohibition of entry into Botswana

    11.    Quarantine of persons entering Botswana

    12.    Suspension of issue of visa at port of entry and embassies

    13.    Departure from, or transit through, high risk country

PART IV
Restriction of Movement of People

    14.    Restriction on person testing positive for COVID-19

    15.    Temporary permits

    16.    Prohibition of gathering

    17.    Work arrangements in response to COVID-19

    18.    Restriction on visitation

    19.    Limitation of hours of trade

PART V
Closure of Facilities

    20.    Closure of schools

    21.    Closure of liquor stores

PART VI
Miscellaneous Provisions

    22.    Suspension of applicable penalties

    23.    Designated places of entry, exit, etc.

    24.    Import of essential supplies

    25.    Pricing and sale of essential supplies

    26.    Standards specifications for hand sanitisers

    27.    Restriction of essential supplies

    28.    Power to stop, detain and arrest

    29.    Dead bodies, conveyance, burial, etc.

    30.    Payment of compensation and remuneration

    30A.    Prohibition of importation or sale of tobacco, etc.

    30B.    Suspension of court procedures

    30C.    Suspension of filling of council vacancy

    30D.    Suspension of industrial action

    30E.    Suspension of retrenchment or dismissal

    30F.    Deferment of self-assessment tax

    30G.    Notice to be published by Director

    31.    Offences and penalties

    32.    Revocation of instruments

        SCHEDULE 1

        SCHEDULE 2

        SCHEDULE 3

        SCHEDULE 4

        SCHEDULE 5

S.I. 61, 2020,
S.I. 62, 2020,
S.I. 63, 2020,
S.I. 71, 2020,
S.I. 72, 2020,
S.I. 73, 2020,
S.I. 74, 2020.

PART I
Preliminary (regs 1-4)

1.    Citation

    These Regulations may be cited as the Emergency (COVID-19) Regulations.

2.    Interpretation

    In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires?

    "COVID-19" means the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) which is an infectious disease caused by a virus, and declared a global pandemic by the WHO on 11th March, 2020;

    "emergency services" means the Botswana Police Service, Botswana Defence Force, Prisons Service, Fire Services, ambulance service, medical service and veterinary service;

    "essential services" means any service that is provided in the following services?

    (a)    Government printing and publishing services;

    (b)    immigration services;

    (c)    custom services;

    (d)    banking services;

    (e)    central banking services;

    (f)    stock exchange services;

    (g)    insurance services;

    (h)    pension administrator services;

    (i)    fund managers;

    (j)    postal services;

    (k)    electronic payment service providers;

    (l)    maintenance and hardware services;

    (m)    general dealer;

    (n)    supermarket;

    (o)    butchery;

    (p)    tuckshop services;

    (q)    procurement services;

    (r)    pest control services;

    (s)    chemical supply services;

    (t)    manufacturing services;

    (u)    water services;

    (v)    power services;

    (w)    emergency services;

    (x)    communication services, including the media;

    (y)    medical aid services;

    (z)    sanitation and refuse removals services;

    (aa)    health services;

    (bb)    legal practitioners;

    (cc)    energy sector services;

    (dd)    farming services, including crop production services;

    (ee)    social services;

    (ff)    private security services;

    (gg)    petroleum services;

    (hh)    restaurant and takeaway services;

    (ii)    bakery;

    (jj)    courier and delivery services;

    (kk)    funeral parlour services;

    (ll)    administration of justice;

    (mm)    air traffic control services;

    (nn)    mining services; and

    (oo)    any essential services as may be determined by the President and published by Notice in Government Gazette,

and any other service in the supply chain connected with the provision of the above services;

    "essential service provider" includes employees of the essential services;

    "essential supplies" means?

    (a)    food supplies;

    (b)    medical equipment and supplies including sanitisers, surgical gloves, soap, antiseptics, bleach, surgical spirit, methylated spirit, disinfectants, baby wipes, wet wipes and surgical masks;

    (c)    pharmaceutical supplies;

    (d)    agricultural supplies;

    (e)    maintenance and hardware supplies;

    (f)    communication supplies;

    (g)    air supplies;

    (h)    rail supplies;

    (i)    water supplies, including chemicals and equipment required by the water sector; and

    (j)    mining supplies,

and any other commercial supplies connected with essential services;

    "gathering" means any assembly, concourse or procession of more than two persons, wholly or partially in open air or premises and shall exclude a household or a group of essential service providers;

    "high risk countries" means, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chechnya, China, Denmark, United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Japan, Iran, United States of America, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, India, and includes any other country that may be declared as a high risk country by WHO for purposes of COVID-19;

    "home" means a place where a person resides alone or as a member of a family or household, including in a multi-residential property:

    Provided that a home may, subject to regulation 8, include a ploughing field (masimo) or a cattle post (moraka);

    "law enforcement officer" means any member of the Botswana Police Service, Botswana Prison Service, Botswana Defence Force, wildlife officer or Directorate of Intelligence Services officers;

    "lockdown" means a severe form of social distancing under conditions as set out in Part II;

    "midnight" in reference to a day, means the point of time at which that day ends;

    "social distancing" means any public health measure taken to reduce interaction and contact between persons, to limit spread of diseases that are transmitted between persons including through contact and coughing; and

    "WHO" means the World Health Organisation.

3.    Application of Regulations

    These Regulations shall apply for the duration of the emergency proclamation and shall apply to the whole of Botswana.

4.    Taking of possession, control, etc. of property on behalf of the Republic

    (1) For the purposes of these Regulations and in the interest of public health, the President may authorise, on behalf of the Republic?

    (a)    the taking of possession or control of any property or undertaking; and

    (b)    the acquisition of any property other than land.

    (2) Any possession or control of property or any arrangements made before the commencement of these Regulations, shall continue to be in force as if made under these Regulations.

    (3) Any person whose property is taken under this regulation shall be compensated and remunerated in terms of regulation 30.

PART II
Lockdown (regs 5-9)

5.    Declaration of lockdown

    (1) During the state of public emergency declared by the President under the Emergency Proclamation, the President may declare a national lockdown for the whole of Botswana or a lockdown in a particular location or area of Botswana.

    (2) For the purpose of preventing, controlling and suppressing the spread of COVID-19, a lockdown is hereby declared with effect from 2nd April, 2020 at midnight until 30th April, 2020, for the whole of Botswana.

    (3) The lockdown declared under subregulation (2) is hereby extended to 20th May, 2020 at midnight, and for the avoidance of doubt, a permit under regulation 7(1) shall be required for the duration of the lockdown, and under the following conditions?

    (a)    from 30th April, 2020 at midnight until 7th May, 2020 at midnight, the lockdown shall be subject to the following conditions?

        (i)    ...

        (ii)    during this phase of the lockdown and until further notice?

            (aa)    a person in a public place shall wear a face mask or home-made item or appropriate item that covers the person's nose and mouth;

                Provided that, where a person has a disability which requires that the person cannot wear a face mask, home-made item or appropriate item that covers the nose and mouth and such disability has been certified by a medical practitioner, in writing, the person shall not be required to wear a face mask or home-made item or appropriate item that covers the nose and mouth, and

            (bb)    a person who is the parent or guardian of a child, or a person responsible for the care of a child, shall when with the child in a public place, ensure that the child is wearing a face mask, home-made item or appropriate item that covers the nose and mouth of the child;

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