Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 1st, 2021
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 1st, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, via videoconference, and approved, with amendments, the Decree-Law draft, presented by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Armindo Maia, for the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 13/2019, of June 14th, approving the Organic Law of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. This Decree-Law draft aims to introduce changes to the organizational structure of this ministry, with a view to reducing bureaucracy in services and greater speed in responding to the needs of the education sector, in general, as well as improving the quality of teaching and learning.
It was also approved, with amendments, the Decree-Law draft for the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 22/2019, of July 31st, on the Organic Law of the Secretariat of State for Cooperatives, presented by the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral, and the Secretary of State for Cooperatives, Elizário Ferreira. The purpose of this amendment is to reinforce the structure of the organs and services of the Secretariat of State in order to obtain the means to increase its efficacy, efficiency and the quality of the services it is legally responsible for, in order to achieve economic growth and consolidate the cooperative model of the financial and non-financial branches.
The Council of Ministers approved, with amendments, the Government Decree draft, presented by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the measures to implement the Declaration of the State of Emergency, made by President of the Republic’s Decree No. 17/2021 of March 31st, to respond to the pandemic of COVID-19. The state of emergency, now renewed, covers the entire national territory and is in force between April 3rd, 2021, 00.00 a.m., and May 2nd, 2021, 11.59 p.m.
The measures imposed by this diploma are similar to the implementing rules of the previous Declaration of the State of Emergency. It is only noteworthy that it is now established that all individuals suspected of being infected or who have had contact with infected with SARS-Cov-2 are required to undergo testing for the new Coronavirus infection.
Therefore, most of the measures previously approved and which are being implemented will be maintained, namely the prohibition of land border crossings for traditional or customary purposes and for access to regulated markets.
All individuals wishing to enter or leave the territory will continue to be subject to health checks, with international movement being prevented for anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19.
The imposition of compulsory prophylactic isolation (quarantine) remains in place for all individuals entering the national territory from abroad who show symptoms of COVID-19, who are suspected of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 but whose COVID-19 tests are inconclusive, who are healthcare workers who have worked in an isolation centre where care is provided to patients with COVID-19 or those infected with SARS-CoV-2 and who have been in close contact, cohabited or shared the same environment with a patient with COVID-19. Expenses related to prophylactic isolation are borne by each individual when the isolation is carried out in a private healthcare facility, home or isolation centre.
All individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 shall be subject to therapeutic isolation, which may be carried out at home, following a reasoned order by the Minister of Health.
During the validity of the present diploma, all individuals residing in Timor-Leste are still obliged to keep a distance of, at least, three feet in relation to other individuals with whom they do not live in common economy. They are also obliged to wear a face mask that covers the nose and mouth when having access or stay in public or private premises of collective use and to sanitize their hands when intending to enter commercial, industrial or service provision establishments or buildings where public administration services operate. All people are also still obliged to avoid the formation of agglomerations, in public places.
The Council of Ministers also approved the Government Resolutions drafts for the maintenance of the imposition of health fence and general home confinement of the population in the Municipality of Dili, until April 16th 2021, 11:59 p.m., and in the Municipalities of Baucau and Viqueque, until April 9th 2021, 11:59 p.m..
All the rules previously defined in the Government Resolutions that imposed health fences and home confinement in these municipalities are maintained.
Thus, the movement of persons between these municipalities and other administrative constituencies continues to be prohibited, except in duly justified cases for reasons of public security, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of public supply systems or the achievement of public interest.
The imposition of general home confinement for all persons residing or that are presently in in the municipalities of Dili, Baucau and Viqueque also remains, except for the reasons already defined above, namely for reasons of health, work and to access basic goods and services.
The Council of Ministers approved the Government Resolution draft, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, on the names to be proposed to the President of the Republic for the leadership of the Diplomatic Missions of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
Finally, was approved the Government Resolution draft, presented by the Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva, to attribute the name "Berlin-Ramelau" to the second national passenger ship (Nakroma II). END
