Masks mandatory in all courtrooms as of Monday 3 August 2020

The Judiciary of Seychelles wishes to inform members of the public that wearing face masks inside all courtrooms will be mandatory as from next week, Monday 3 August 2020. Members of the public not wearing face masks will not be permitted to enter the courtrooms. The Judiciary already enforces screening measures such as taking contact information and checking the body temperature of all individuals entering Judiciary premises; however, the Judiciary asks that the public wear their masks inside courtrooms, where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. This decision has been taken in light of the Seychelles International Airport officially reopening to commercial flights on Saturday 1 August 2020, increasing the local community’s exposure to COVID-19.

The Public Health Authority recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household. COVID-19can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. That is why it is vital for everyone to wear cloth face coverings in public settings and practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people).

Cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth face covering coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. This is called source control.Cloth face coverings should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. Individuals with medical conditions preventing them from wearing a mask are exempt from the rule.