Government of Timor-Leste

Presidência do Conselho de Ministros

VIII Governo Constitucional

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Comunicado de Imprensa

Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 4, 2020

The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the Draft Government Decree, presented by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the measures for implementing the state of emergency declaration, made by the President of the Republic Decree N.º 55/2020, of August 5^th, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state of emergency covers the entire national territory and will be in force between 00:00 September 5^th, 2020 and 23:59 October 4^th, 2020.

This Government Decree determines that all individuals who intend to enter or leave the national territory are subject to mandatory health check. All individuals who intend to enter the country are also subject to mandatory preventive isolation (quarantine) with a minimum duration of fourteen days. This period does not apply to the aircraft crews who provide international transport of passenger or goods and drivers of heavy goods vehicles for international land transportation.

It is forbidden to board in buses, ships or aircrafts, to all individuals who have any of the following symptoms: body temperature higher than 37,5⁰ C; cough; sore throat; cold; and respiratory distress or shortness of breath, except in case of medical evacuation.

The Government Decree requires the COVID-19 testing to anyone who enters the national territory and presents any of the symptoms listed in the previous paragraph. If they are diagnosed with COVID-19, they are obliged to undergo therapeutic isolation.

Individuals who are infected with SARS-CoV-2, who enter in to national territory from overseas or who are under the supervision of health authorities, will remain in compulsory confinement in health establishment, in their own residence or in state isolation centres, for 14 days, or until medical discharge.

The period referred in the preceding paragraph does not apply to aircraft crews who ensure the international transport of passengers or goods and drivers of heavy goods vehicles for international land transportation, whom are subject to mandatory confinement period coinciding with the time their stay in national territory, discounting the vehicles operation time. The rules of entry and mandatory confinement for these citizens are approved by ministerial diploma from the Minister of Health.

In exceptional cases, justified by reasons of health and safety of the population, the Minister of Interior may order the border posts temporary closure or the reduction of opening hours to the public.

During the term of the state of emergency, all licenses, authorizations and other administrative acts and documents remain valid, regardless of their expiration date.

The enforcement of the present diploma ruling supervision is the responsibility of the security forces and services and of the epidemiological and health surveillance teams, and is therefore prohibited any act of active or passive resistance to the orders issued by the competent public authorities in the implementation of the state of emergency’s declaration. END