Lawmaker Reflects on Health Precautions to Combat Infectious Diseases

In the context of the precautionary measures adopted nationwide to counter the Corona pandemic, Deputy Dr. Mohamed al-Amari, Chairman of the Health Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, and more than a tenth of the members of a draft law deem it necessary to amend some provisions of Law No. 137 of 1958 regarding health precautions to prevent infectious diseases.

The draft law aims to develop the ability of health authorities to face the risk of the widespread spread of some diseases, which represents a serious threat to public health, in a rapid response from members of the House of Representatives to meet the exceptional circumstances imposed by the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic (Corona virus) in all countries of the world, including Egypt.

Al-Amari explained that the experiment revealed the need to grant the Ministry of Health new powers that would enable it to effectively handle the containment of the threat of Corona virus, and on the basis of that the draft law proposes to amend the text of Articles 25 and 26 of the existing law, and to add three new texts to its provisions, in pursuit of goals and principles. The following points were proposed by Health Affairs Committee:

1. Increasing the penalties prescribed for violating any of the provisions stipulated in this law.

2. Authorizing health authorities to compel inpiduals to use medical masks and other protective supplies outside the residence, if the Minister of Health determines this is necessary to prevent the spread of infection.

3. Enabling health authorities to take the necessary health measures to deal with the bodies of the dead due to epidemics, including the burial being carried out under health supervision. This includes preventing the spread of infection on the one hand, and respecting the dignity of the deceased and religious and social sentiment on the other.

4. Introduce a punitive text to criminalize any acts that would hinder, interrupt or prevent the burial of the dead or any of the burial rites in violation of the rules and procedures specified by the Minister of Health.

5. The introduction of a punitive text punishable by a fine by anyone who violates the obligation imposed by this law on inpiduals to use medical masks and other protective supplies outside the places of residence, according to the rules and procedures determined by the Minister of Health.