New COVID-19 Regulations Increase Fines
Cabinet approved the publication (Friday, 27 November 2020) of three updated regulations aimed at facilitating the prevention of COVID-19, that increase the penalty for offences to reflect recently passed legislation.
The newly published regulations include:
Control of COVID-19 (No. 3) Regulations, 2020;
Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19 (Partial Lifting of Restrictions) (No. 6) Regulations, 2020; and
Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19 (Partial Lifting of Restrictions) (Travel and Boating) (No. 6) Regulations, 2020.
The only substantive change to the regulations is to increase the penalty for offences to reflect the new maximum penalty under the recently passed Public Health (Amendment) Law, 2020.
While under previous COVID-19 regulations all penalties attracted fines of $1,000 and imprisonment for six months, the amended law allows fines of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for two years.
With this change now reflected in regulations, the Courts will be able to impose the maximum penalty allowed by law when sentencing offenders.
The regulations take effect on 30 November and expire 31 January 2021.
Control of COVID-19 (No. 3) Regulations, 2020;
Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19 (Partial Lifting of Restrictions) (No. 6) Regulations, 2020; and
Prevention, Control and Suppression of COVID-19 (Partial Lifting of Restrictions) (Travel and Boating) (No. 6) Regulations, 2020.
The only substantive change to the regulations is to increase the penalty for offences to reflect the new maximum penalty under the recently passed Public Health (Amendment) Law, 2020.
While under previous COVID-19 regulations all penalties attracted fines of $1,000 and imprisonment for six months, the amended law allows fines of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for two years.
With this change now reflected in regulations, the Courts will be able to impose the maximum penalty allowed by law when sentencing offenders.
The regulations take effect on 30 November and expire 31 January 2021.
