Republic of Mauritius- The Covid-19 (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the Quarantine Bill will help country get back on track, states states Minister Jagutpal

Minister
Jagutpal recalled how the world is bearing the full weight of the novel
Coronavirus and its unprecedented effects adding that Government acted quickly
and boldly in the absence of
definite legislations in order to guarantee the safety and security of all of the
citizens. Hence the need to consolidate the legislations into a new
comprehensive Act that will address all emerging issues, he highlighted. 

Quarantine Bill 

Speaking about the
Quarantine Act of 2020, Dr Jagutpal stated that it will confer powers to the Prime
Minister to take such bold but deemed necessary decisions to ensure the
prevention and containment of communicable diseases, and for the overall safety
of the Nation. 

The proposed
Quarantine Bill also provides for private premises to be mobilised for
quarantine centres.  The Minister
recalled that in the Quarantine Act of 1954 there was no designation of a
quarantine facility adding that during the outbreak of Covid-19 in Mauritius,
37 quarantine centres which were set up overnight were operational in the
country. 

Another issue
addressed in the Quarantine Bill is that of medical examination. In a scenario
where the country is at risk of a viral outbreak, we have to ascertain that the
medical information we require and gather are exact and precise, said Dr
Jagutpal. 

He underlined how in
the Covid-19 situation, some people did not disclose data that would have
greatly helped Government in its efforts to contain the novel coronavirus and
others who refused to undergo medical treatment and examination. The proposed
Bill, he underpinned, will allow Government to better its sanitary surveillance
and provide the population with appropriate health care for their own security,
that of their family and surroundings. 

Other provisions in
the Quarantine Bill include: 

·     The Quarantine Bill 2020 proposes that the Director General
Health Services of the Ministry of Health and Wellness acts as Quarantine
Authority. He will thus be in his role to spearhead professional and technical
aspects while coordinating and implementing Health Policies. 

·        
On approval of the quarantine officer, a patient can pursue his
quarantine period in a private medical institution. 

·        
Additional Powers have been granted to the Police which will
only be exercised in a given context.

Covid-19 (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 

As regards the
Covid-19 (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, Dr Jagutpal stated that this piece of
legislation will allow Government to pursue its Action Plan towards strengthening
its preparedness for and response to the Covid-19 and to any future pandemic. Such measures, he added, are being
proposed to make sure that all guidelines given to the public aimed at
preventing the propagation of a communicable disease are respected. 

As regards the amendments at
Section (40) referring to the Pharmacy Act, the Minister underlined that they
will enable the country to cater more for its own needs with regards to
medicine supplies. These amendments will lead to faster access to products for
the Mauritian territory, he added. 

He underlined that as of
now, 98% of the medicinal needs of the country are being imported hence the
need to have a timely delivery and availability of medicines, even in
complicated circumstances. 

Timely management of the Covid-19 pandemic 

Speaking about
Government’s timely management of the situation, Dr Jagutpal highlighted that
it has given palpable results. He acknowledged that bold measures were taken in
a timely manner in order to contain the effects of the pandemic, curb down its
potential to propagate and ensure that all the citizens of the Republic remain
safe.

 Government Information Service, Prime
Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius.
Email: gis@govmu.org  Website: http://gis.govmu.org  Mobile App: Search Gov​