Amid a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the interior, the government today announced the shutting down of mining at Aranka/Arangoy Landing in Region Seven and special measures for that area and Moruca in Region One.
A statement from the government said that “These emergency measures are made pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2)(b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement- B, 16th March 2020.
“The measures shall take effect from the 3rd July, 2020 and last until the 16th July, 2020 unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions”.
The new measures pertaining to Aranka/Arangoy Landing and Moruca follow:
7. Special Measures Applicable to Specified Hinterland and Mining Communities
(1) In addition to the measures in this Notice, the measures under this paragraph shall apply to the areas and the corresponding geographical coordinates listed in the Schedule and where there is any conflict, the measures under this paragraph shall prevail.
(2) No person shall travel into or out of the areas listed in the Schedule during the period 3rd July 2020 to the 16th July, 2020 without the authorisation of the Minister of Public Health.
(3) Persons residing in the areas listed in the Schedule shall be subject to the following restrictions on movements-
(4) Every person residing in the listed areas in the Schedule shall wear a mask fitted to cover the nose and mouth of the person when in public.
(5) Gatherings shall not exceed five persons and the physical distance of six feet between persons shall apply to those gatherings.
(6) All mining operations shall cease.
(7) All homes and public places including shops, landing, means of transportation and conveyances shall be sanitised.
(8) Every employer or operator of a business, as the case may be, shall ensure that-
(i) hand washing stations, or hand sanitising equipment, are placed and maintained at the entrance of the workplace or business premises, so that persons entering the premises have the opportunity to wash or sanitize their hands before entering the premises;
(ii) its employees, customers or visitors are directed to wash or sanitise their hands before entering the business premises;
(iii) all employee workstations and all equipment on the business premises are sanitised before each work shift;
(iv) as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that all employees, customers, visitors and staff at the business maintain physical distancing of no less than six feet from each other;
(v) persons with a flu-like symptoms or respiratory symptoms are not permitted to go to work, or if they are at work, are not permitted to remain at work; or enter the business premises and the Ministry of Public Health is informed of the persons who have those symptoms;
(vi) a physical distance of six feet apart shall be maintained;
(vii) every person is wearing a mask fitted to cover the nose and mouth of the person while in the workplace or on the business premises.
(9) Where the Ministry of Health considers it necessary, the Ministry may test for Coronavirus any person who resides in any area listed in the Schedule and quarantine, isolate and treat any person.
(10)Any person who tests positive for Coronavirus shall be placed in controlled isolation.
(11) The Police Force shall-
(a) coordinate and mobilise the security of quarantine and isolation sites, materials or goods and screening and testing checkpoints;
(b) provide escort for mobile teams; and
(c) ensure the security of entry and exits points of the areas listed in the Schedule.
SCHEDULE (Paragraph 7)
1. Aranka/Arangoy Landing- and all mining sites and residents within the radius of the following geographical coordinates-
Point 1 Easting 227245 Northing 712050
Point 2 Easting 242122 Northing 726327
Point 3 Easting 226835 Northing 726395
Point 4 Easting 227245 Northing 711979
2. Moruca – and all residents and businesses within the radius of following geographical coordinates
Easting 287078 Northing 843775
Point 1 Easting 252575 Northing 828716
Point 2 Easting 326394 Northing 828519
Point 3 Easting 347585 Northing 800028
Point 4 Easting 253485 Northing 800892
