A Bill to provide power for the Minister of Health to prevent the threatened spread of a communicable disease by “closing schools, cinemas, churches, hotels or other places of public resort” was tabled in the House Of Assembly today.
The Bill’s Explanatory Memorandum states, “This Bill seeks to amend the Public Health Act 1949 to provide power for the Minister of Health to prevent the threatened spread of a communicable disease of the first or second category by closing schools, cinemas, churches, hotels or other places of public resort or meeting in Bermuda.
“Clause 1 provides a citation for the Act. Clause 2 amends section 88 of the Public Health Act 1949 to provide power for the Minister of Health to prevent the threatened spread of a communicable disease of the first or second category by closing schools, cinemas, churches, hotels or other places of public resort or meeting in Bermuda if, in the opinion of the Chief Medical Officer, there is an immediate risk of an outbreak of such disease.”
In a highly unusual move – which is due to the Government’s urgent need to get this passed — the Bill will now head to the Senate, which is also meeting today, and the only item for debate today in the Senate will be this Bill.
The full Public Health Amendment Act 2020 follows below [PDF here]
