Power to take special measures and specify regulations as to epidemic disease.

(1)When at any time the Government is satisfied that the State or any part thereof is visited by or threatened with an outbreak of any epidemic disease, the Government may take such measures, as it deems necessary for the purpose, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify such temporary regulations or orders to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons so as to prevent the outbreak of such epidemic disease or the spread thereof and require or empower District Collectors to exercise such powers and duties as may be specified in the said regulations or orders. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Government may take measures and specify regulations,- (a) to prohibit any usage or act which the Government considers sufficient to spread or transmit epidemic diseases from person to person in any gathering, celebration, worship or other such activities within the State; (b) to inspect the persons arriving in the State by air, rail, road or any other means or in quarantine or in isolation, as the case may be, in hospital, temporary accommodation, home or otherwise of persons suspected of being infected with any such disease by the officer authorized in the regulation or orders; (c) to seal State Borders for such period as may be deemed necessary; (d) to impose restrictions on the operation of public and private transport; (e) to prescribe social distancing norms or any other instructions for the public to observe that are considered necessary for public health and safety on account of the epidemic; (f) to restrict or prohibit congregation of persons in public places and religious institutions or places of worship; (g) to regulate or restrict the functioning of offices, Government and private, and educational institutions in the State; (h) to impose prohibition or restrictions on the functioning of shops and commercial and other offices, establishments, factories, workshops and godowns; (i) to restrict duration of services in essential or emergency services such as banks, media, health care, food supply, electricity, water, fuel etc.; and (j) such other measures as may be necessary for the regulation and prevention of epidemic diseases as decided by the Government.