By Staff Reporter
April 11, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The government of Ethiopia has officially prohibited handshakes during greetings and interactions in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Unveiling the specific decrees of the recently issued state of emergency, federal attorney-general Adanech Abiebie said gatherings of four or more people in churches, mosques, government offices, cafes, etc., are prohibited over the next five months.
According to the new rules, students and their teachers can not meet in schools and businesses, government and private institutions are obliged to prevent people from standing together in a closed environment.
If four people stand together, they should keep a two-meter distance between themselves. However, funeral services and other important issues could be entertained in special cases, she said.
The rule states that the funeral of any person who will die of COVID-19 will take place by the government and the number of people who will be attending the memorial service will be determined in the following days.
The new emergency rule states that any person, organization or business is obliged to give away his/ her house, building or other properties for medical purposes when requested by the government to do so to help stop the spread of the virus, Adanech added.
Though the rule allows inmates to meet with their defense lawyers, it bans visits to prisons. All activities at border area are also prohibited, except cargo and freight transport services, she said.
The rule further forbids eviction of tenants from rented houses unless the tenants want to leave, raising house rents, laying off workers and termination of employment contracts during the period of the emergency decree.
The rules also ban sporting events, playground gatherings, and shaking hands as well as prohibits vehicles used for the transportation of passengers from carrying more than 50% of their capacity.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently said it is impossible to limit the movement of people and insist them stay home as significant numbers of Ethiopians make their living from daily earnings.
Anyone caught violating the state of emergency could face up to three years of imprisonment.
People will be forcibly quarantined if they break the rules, and other sanctions will also be imposed.
The Ethiopian Parliament on Friday endorsed the state of emergency declared by the Council of Ministers to curb the spread of the virus that has so far infected 69 people and killed another three.
Dr. Liya Tadesse, Minister of Health on Saturday said 10 patients of COVID-19 in Ethiopia have recovered from their illnesses.
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