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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 15, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at Government Palace, in Dili, and decided to revoke the Government Resolution 52/2020, of December 30th, which approved the renewal of the imposition of a sanitary fence in the Special Administrative Region of Oe-cusse (RAEOA). In view of the recovery of all those infected with COVID-19 in the RAEOA, as well as the absence of new cases resulting from community transmission, the Government decided to suspend the sanitary fence, once again being allowed to travel, by land and sea, between that region and the other municipalities.
Lastly, again in view of the recovery of the infected people and the absence of new cases resulting from community transmission, the Council of Ministers decided to revoke Government Decree 21/2020 of December 30th and approved a new Government Decree draft, presented by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the implementation measures for the Declaration of the State of Emergency, renewed by the President of the Republic’s Decree 73/2021, of December 30th.
The measures imposed by this decree are similar to Government Decree 18/2020 of December 3rd, which defined the rules for implementing the previous State of Emergency Declaration.
The Government Decree determines that all those who are in the national territory should seek to adopt and promote the adoption of social distance of behaviour, namely avoiding participating in crowds, maintaining a distance of, at least, five feet between each person, with whom they do not live in a common economy, use a face mask to cover the nose and mouth when have to stay in closed spaces for collective use, and clean their hands frequently, especially when they come into contact with objects, namely money, and when they intend to enter commercial stores or buildings where public administration services operate.
It remains mandatory that all individuals wishing to enter or leave the national territory are subject to health control. It also remains mandatory for prophylactic isolation (quarantine) with a minimum duration of fourteen days, and testing for COVID-19, for citizens wishing to enter the country, who have symptoms of COVID-19 or who have had contact with individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. Expenses related to prophylactic isolation are borne by each individuals when the prophylactic isolation is carried out in a private health establishment, residence or private isolation centre.
The ban on land border crossings for traditional or customary purposes and for access to regulated markets is also maintained, while maintaining the respective sanctions. The entry of foreigners into national territory, across land borders, remains subject to prior authorization.
During the period of the state of emergency, all licenses, authorizations and other administrative acts and documents remain valid, regardless of their expiration date. END