The government this evening published a legal notice establishing the categories of vulnerable persons who should “remain segregated in their residence” in a bid to “reduce, remove or eliminate” the chances of Coronavirus transmission.

The legal notice has been a matter of controversy for the last 48 hours after it was first announced by Health Minister Chris Fearne, only to have Prime Minister later needing to be interviewed on the 8pm TVM news to explain it further.

The legal notice may be found in full below:

In exercise of the powers conferred by article 27(c) of the Public Health Act, the Superintendent of Public Health has made the following order:-

1. The title of this order is the Protection of Vulnerable Citation. Persons Order, 2020. Measures for the protection of vulnerable persons.

2. (1) The Superintendent of Public Health, as a measure to reduce, remove or eliminate the threat to public health, hereby orders that those categories of persons specifically listed in sub-article (2), hereinafter referred to as ‘vulnerable persons’, are to remain segregated in their residence.

(2) The applicability of this measure shall be limited to the following vulnerable persons:

(a) persons of sixty-five (65) years of age or over;

(b) pregnant women;

(c) persons suffering from the following chronic illnesses and, or medical conditions: (i) insulin dependent diabetics;

(ii) patients who are immunosuppressed;

(iii) patients undergoing any immunosuppressive treatment including but not limited to the use of biological agents and immunomodulators;

(iv) patients suffering from cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy;

(v) patients suffering, or who have suffered, from cancer having undergone chemotherapy at any time within the last six

(6) months preceding the entry into force of this order;

(vi) patients on dialysis; B 762 (vii) patients who are to be admitted to hospital with respiratory problem exacerbations;

(viii) patients who, at any time within the last year preceding the entry into force of this order, have been admitted to hospital with respiratory problem exacerbations;

(ix) patients suffering from cardiac disease who are to undergo a cardiac intervention or a cardiac surgical procedure;

(x) patients suffering, or who have suffered, from cardiac disease having undergone a cardiac intervention or a cardiac surgical procedure at any time during the last six (6) months preceding the entry into force of this order;

(xi) patients attending a heart failure clinic; and (xii) patients on oral steroids: Provided that for the purposes of this order, any person who satisfies paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) and who occupies a public office, is a Member of Parliament, employed in the health services sector or is a healthcare professional, and, or, who occupies an essential headship position, shall be exempt from this measure unless that person chooses otherwise.

(3) This measure shall not apply in the event that the vulnerable persons need to leave their residence to attend medical appointments, obtain medical care or treatment, acquire food, medicine, other daily necessities, or to attend to any other essential or urgent personal matter: Provided that the vulnerable persons shall limit the period outdoors to the least time possible and shall at all times exercise social distancing.

(4) The Superintendent of Public Health may, in her absolute discretion, exempt from this measure any vulnerable persons or category of vulnerable persons mentioned in sub-article (2).