The Chadian Head of State, Idriss Deby Itno, has instituted by decree a State of Health Emergency of 21 days over the whole of the national territory, from this April 25, 2020. The decree was read on the airwaves of national radio by Minister of Communication, Government Spokesperson, Oumar Yaya Hissein.
The declaration of a state of health emergency empowers the ministers concerned to take all measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Here are the other details of article 2 of the decree:
- Restrict or prohibit the movement of people and vehicles in the places and at the times fixed by decree;
- Prohibit people from leaving their homes, subject to strictly essential travel;
- Quarantine the people likely to be affected as well as the placement and keeping in isolation at their homes of the affected people;
- Temporarily close one or more categories of establishments welcoming the public, with the exception of establishments providing essential goods or services;
- Order the temporary closure of meeting places of all kinds, drinking places, games rooms and shows;
- Limit or prohibit gatherings on the public highway, as well as meetings of any kind;
- Take measures to ensure the permanence of pharmacies on duty;
- Order the requisition of all goods and services necessary for the fight against the health disaster, as well as of any person necessary for the operation of these services or the use of these goods;
- Take all measures allowing the provision of appropriate medicines for the eradication of the health disaster.
Article 3 of the decree specifies that infringements of the measures provided for in article 2 will be punished by imprisonment of one to three months, without prejudice to the execution of said measures