Coronavirus: Two more tweaks to 8998 rule

The Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday two more exemptions to the text message rule, applying to those undergoing medical treatment and divorced parents visiting their children.

Those under regular medical treatment such as dialysis, chemotherapy and cancer treatment will be able to move to and from medical centres without having to send a text message, as long as they can show proof in the form of a medical certificate, a scheduled appointment or a doctor’s note.

This also covers those accompanying or transporting patients to and from medical centres.

In addition, divorced parents living separately from their underage children will also be exempt from the text message rule, to ensure uninterrupted access between families.

This means that parents moving to and from their underage children’s residence to care for them – on designated days and times – will not need to send a text message to do so.

In case a court order exists, parents might need to present it in case they are checked. If there is no court order then one parent must have on them a completed Form B document, signed and confirmed by their ex-spouse.

As previously announced, those travelling to and from church during the Holy Week and those driving soldiers to and from army camps are also exempt from the text message rule.

The rest of the population will only be allowed a single text message per day, corresponding to one outing, throughout lockdown which will last from April 26 to May 9.