COVID-19: Lockdown of greater Male extended for 14 days

Health Protection Agency's (HPA) Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru on Friday made the decision to extend the lockdown on greater Male region for a period of 14 days.

The lockdown was initially put in place at 1530 hours on April 15, following the first case of community transmission on COVID-19 in Maldives.

This was then extended until 1430 hours, April 17. With the latest extension, the lockdown in this area will be lifted on May 1.

The following measures will be put in motion during 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)

Additionally, the departure of any unauthorised vessels docked in any part of the capital city is prohibited during the lockdown period.

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.

Residents of the Greater Male' area are advised 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.

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

Maldives now has 27 confirmed and 11 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 145,521 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 547,295 people have recovered.