The Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA), stated that citizens were now required to wear protective masks while exiting their homes. This would be necessary while visiting all government and private headquarters, banks, markets, shops, gas stations, public transport, and other public places.
The Council called on the owners of commercial activities not to accept citizens who did not wear masks. Additionally, it has required them to provide sterilizers and special instructions to ensure social distancing.
According to the GNA’s orders, shopkeepers will have to pay a 500-dinar fine if they allow people with no face masks to enter. The fine would be doubled if they committed a second violation, while their shops would be closed for a month if they committed a third violation.
The Council will also penalise those who do not abide by the curfew hours with a fine of 1,000 dinars for each shop found open. It is doubled in the event of repetition, and a third violation would result in a 500 dinar fine, the revoking of their license, and the closure of the shop for a period of not less than two years.
On Thursday, the National Centre for Disease Control reported 404 new COVID-19 cases, and 8 deaths. This brings the total confirmed cases to 4,897, and the death toll to 107.
Several Arab countries have tightened restrictions on movement and travel to curb the spread of the virus. Trillions of dollars have been pledged in economic stimulus packages around the world to reduce the economic repercussions of the crisis.