The Presidential Council on Thursday issued a new decree to force local people to comply with Covid-19 preventive measures, in a new effort to stem the spread of the disease.

 The Presidential Council imposed penalties for not wearing a face mask in public places, shops and government facilities.

Under the new order, shopkeepers will have to pay a 500-dinar fine if they allow people with no face masks to enter their shops. The fine would be doubled if they committed a second violation while their shops would be closed for a month if they committed a third violation.

Shops that stay open after the curfew time (9 pm – 6 am) will be fined 1000 dinars, according to the order.

Taxi drivers will also have to comply with the Covid-19 preventive measures. The drivers who pick up people with no face masks will be fined 250 dinars.

People who drive during the curfew time will pay a 500-dinar fine.