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State of disaster not likely to be lifted yet despite cabinet pledge

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newsBL Premium reports that the government is considering extending the national state of disaster despite the cabinet’s promise that it would end on 15 March, because it has yet to finalise alternative legislation to manage Covid-19.

The government declared a state of disaster in mid-March 2020 in response to the pandemic, using its sweeping powers to impose regulations controlling the movement of people, the size of gatherings, mask wearing in public, curfews, and periodic bans on the sale of alcohol and tobacco. While the economy has largely opened, big live sports events and large concerts are still not allowed. Meantime, increasing rates of vaccination and levels of immunity from prior infections have seen the pandemic stabilise and become less deadly. The issue of lifting the state of disaster has been high on the government’s agenda this week and was discussed at a national coronavirus command council meeting on Tuesday and by the cabinet on Wednesday. Officials and advisers were apparently divided on what restrictions should still be imposed, and on timelines for implementation. Several sources privy to the national coronavirus command council discussions confirmed that regulations to the National Health Act have been drafted, including measures for mask wearing.   But apparently there was disagreement over whether these regulations should be immediately brought into effect or whether there should be public consultation. Ending the state of disaster would leave the government with less flexibility to respond to a sudden rise in Covid-19 infections.

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hajra Omarjee and Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)


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