Stats on COVID19:
– POSITIVE CASES REGISTERED IN MAURITIUS: 332
– COVID-19 RELATED DEATHS IN MAURITIUS: 10
– SUCCESSFULLY TREATED PATIENTS IN MAURITIUS: 322
– LAST COVID-19 POSITIVE CASE REGISTERED: 26TH April 2020
– ACTIVE CASES IN MAURITIUS: 0
Major dates / Events :
February
3rd - All passengers from china on quarantine or isolation with regular health check from authorities
March
Importation of live animals and certain good banned from China
Extension of quarantine and isolation from passengers from risk countries eg Asian countries, some EU countries
18th – First 3 cases detected
19th – Country goes under sanitary lockdown with reduction in public transport and closure of sports, shopping malls with only essential services operating
24th – countries go in complete lockdown, full office closures
On 24 March 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the country would be under complete lock-down until 31 March 2020 with only essential services such as police, hospitals, dispensaries, private clinics, firefighters and banks being open. All other activities would be banned during the curfew period. He also announced that all supermarkets, shops and bakeries would also be closed until 31 March 2020
25th , the finance minister announced distribution of 35,000 food packs to families in the social register and those in need
26th, the government set up the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund, whose collected funds would be used to help people who have been affected by the pandemic. A mobile application named "beSafeMoris" was launched by the Ministry of Technology and Ministry of Health
30th, the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, announced that the sanitary curfew which started on 23 March at 20 00 hours will be extended till 15 April 2020
30th , the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, announced that the sanitary curfew which started on 23 March at 20 00 hours will be extended till 15 April 2020. He also announced that supermarkets, excluding bakeries, would restart operations as from 2 April 2020. Customers will be allowed to enter supermarkets as per the alphabetical order of their names during specific days. It will be compulsory to bring their National Identity cards, wear masks and basic essential products would be limited to three units per person.
April
The country purchases and gets donation of equipment from China, India and Europe. Rapid test kits are made available
May
1st - the Prime Minister announced that the ongoing COVID-19 curfew will be extended to 1 June 2020 and schools will remain closed till 1 August 2020. As from 15 May 2020, more businesses will be allowed to operate, namely bakeries, hardware stores and fish markets and the opening hours of supermarkets will be extended to 20 00 hrs. Banks will continue to operate under strict hygiene protocol.
13th - the government elaborated strict guidelines and regulations that both commuters and public transport operators will have to adhere to. These guidelines and regulations were in line with Government's strategy to ensure that there is no risk of the propagation of COVID-19 as the country gradually prepares itself to allow certain economic activities to resume as from 15 May 2020.
Business Mauritius issues guideline for resumption of work as from 15th of may
16th – 56 sections of laws are amended to prepare the country for reopening and rebuilding the economy- The COVID-19 (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the Quarantine Bill were passed in the National Assembly, yesterday, after three days of debate.
Legislation and government support
During Lockdown
Employment-related measures
• Workers’ rights will not be impacted if they are forced not to work.
• Both public and private sector are being asked and encouraged to work from home.
• COVID-19 Work Access Permits have been issued to key persons of all organizations who need access to their place of work.
• Various assistance schemes put in place for employers to continue to pay their employees eg
Government Wage Assistance Scheme (GWAS) and the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme (SEAS)
• The GWAS has been extended up to 30 April 2020 and will cover salary for the month of April 2020. This is eligible for employees drawing a monthly basic wage of up to MUR 50,000 subject to a cap of MUR 25,000 of assistance per Employee.
• The repo rate (base to borrowing rate) reduced to 1.85%
• Capital Market activity has been suspended. The Stock Exchange of Mauritius has suspended all trading until further notice.
• Penalty for late payment of bills, taxes ect waived or deferred
Post – lockdown
Rebuilding the economy has started
COVID-19 bill voted in assembly
Government budget on the 4th of June
Links and references
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mauritius
https://www.pwc.com/mu/en/publications/covid-bill-mauritius.html
https://www.mcci.org/en/covid-19/
http://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/English/bills/Documents/intro/2020/bill012020.pdf