Published on March 27, 2020

The drastic measures taken by our Government are intended to encourage all of us to exercise extreme caution in the fight against the coronavirus. Here is a recap of the actions taken and their impact on our daily lives.

A curfew order has been imposed across the country from Monday 23 March 2020 at 8pm until Thursday 2 April 2020 at 8pm. Following this, a complete lockdown of all supermarkets, shops and bakeries will be applied till 31 March 2020. Pharmacies and medical equipment stores remain operational throughout this period. What this means for us citizens is that we are not allowed to move around the island without a special permit issued by the Commissioner of Police for one or more of the reasons set out in the Public Health Act.

Setting up of distribution networks

On Wednesday 25 March, the Minister of Finance announced the setting up of a mechanism to distribute 35,000 packs containing basic food items to citizens who are on the Social Register of Mauritius, those who receive the Carers’ Allowance, as well as residents of homes and the disabled during the complete lockdown period.

It is our collective duty to help and assist vulnerable families to face this health crisis. Our Government has set up a COVID-19 Solidarity Fund to provide support to the population and the community at large who are being affected by the pandemic. You can also help associations like Foodwise and Caritas: various calls for donations have been launched in order to provide food and hygiene kits to each of these families.

Additionally, initiatives are under way across the island to enable all Mauritian citizens to get their food supplies. An online shopping platform has been rolled out on Friday 27 March by the Ministry of Commerce in partnership with the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). Essential goods can now be purchased through the following shops: theshop.mu, priceguru.mu, shopwise.mu, ordermanzer.mu, and dreamprice.mu.

Be cautious about fake news

Fake news such as attempts at looting and vandalism around supermarkets or riots in certain villages have swept through the social media landscape with the complete lockdown announcement. Fortunately, such misleading information was promptly quickly denied but disseminating fake news is a very serious matter that can undermine the safety of our citizens. Our Government has therefore introduced strict measures to punish anyone who spreads false information on COVID-19. People found guilty are subject to a fine up to Rs 1 million and/or imprisonment up to 10 years.

To avoid misleading information, we strongly advise you to rely on official sources such as the Police, the Government, the beSafeMoris application launched by Mauritius Telecom and private sources such as the Moka blog, which gives out only official information.

How to continue working in Moka

For proper functioning of the country’s essential services throughout the curfew period, a Work Access Permit is issued to people who have to commute to and from their workplace every day. The relevant application form must be filled out by their employer and workers must carry a proof of identity, their permit and an official written proof from their employer.

Finally, to ensure the payment of salaries of workers in the private sector for the month of March, our Government has announced the introduction of a Wage Support Scheme. Under this scheme, the monthly wages of workers earning up to Rs 50,000 who have been under lockdown since 20 March will be covered up to a threshold of Rs 12,500 per person.

And finally, our general reminders

It is of utmost importance to comply with the instructions issued by our Government. Residents of Moka, the region and the island are urged to stay at home and avoid any unnecessary trips outside. National confinement is essential to prevent the virus from spreading. The Director of Health Services, Dr Vasantrao Gujadhur sent out a strong message to emphasise the importance of this measure to stop the virus, “There could be one death in each family if we do not respect the national containment protocol.” This gives us food for thought.

What to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19? If you are experiencing symptoms of high fever, cough and breathing difficulties, call the 24/7 emergency hotline, 8924.

Follow Moka’s page to keep up-to-date with the latest news on COVID-19 and measures implemented by our Government.

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