COVID-19: Maldives extends Greater Male' Region lockdown by 24 hrs

Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Thursday, extended the greater Male' region lockdown for an additional 24 hours.

Marking the first COVID-19 case in the capital city on Wednesday, HPA's Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru placed the city under a 24-hour lockdown.

At present, the lockdown is set to expire on Friday, April 17, at 1430 hrs.

The following measures will be put in motion under the 24-hour lockdown:

- No vehicles and persons are allowed on the streets of Male', Vilimale' and Hulhumale'

- Public transport including bus and ferry services between Male', Hulhumale' and Vilimale' are halted

- No persons are allowed to enter or leave Male', Villimale', Hulhumale', Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu

The above measures are applicable to all with the exception of the following:

- Officials and vehicles of Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defence Force

- Ambulances, and healthcare professionals and their vehicles

- Persons holding a pass issued by the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC)

- Media holding a pass issued by the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC)

Furthermore, HPA announced that departure of all unauthorized vessels docked in any part of the capital city is prohibited during the lockdown period.

During this lockdown, if anybody has an URGENT need to go out to buy essentials, please call 3034444 and register yourself at NEOC police cluster before going out. You need to have your identification card at ALL times. 1/2

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) April 15, 2020

Individuals that need to leave their homes for necessary reasons must inform the authorities and submit a request to the Maldives Police Service's Situation Room for a permit to do so. The request can be submitted online at https://www.police.gov.mv/permit/ or by calling 3034444.

Authorities also urged residents of the Greater Male' area to utilize 'E-Stores' and delivery services for groceries and foods.

Head of Central Policing Command, Ismail Naveen warned that those violating lockdown regulations will either be handed a fine of MVR 1000, or transferred to a quarantine facility for 14 days.

Food and shop delivery timings:

0900 - 1400hrs
1500 - 1800hrs
2000 - 2300hrs #COVID19Maldives

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) April 15, 2020

Moreover, WAMCO urged all households and businesses to be mindful and minimise waste production as much as possible.

Maldives now has 23 confirmed and seven active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 16 recoveries.

The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected over two million people and claimed over 135,228 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 516,675 people have recovered.