Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has closed round-the-clock operations at three regional airports across the country owing to the decreased number of flights scheduled during the day.
According to a tweet by the ministry, Hanimaadhoo Airport in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Kaadeddhoo Airport in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll and Fuvahmulah Airport will now operate from 0600hrs to 1800hrs only.
However, the ministry noted that flights would operate at night should an emergency situation, such as medical evacuation, arise. In these cases, airline operators should inform the airport three hours earlier for the necessary flight operation arrangements to be made.
Many flights are suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the state urges airlines to reduce the number of flights. Domestic and international airports across the country are now deserted, including the main Velana International Airport.
Some airlines have cancelled all flight operations due to a loss of customers and a decrease in demand for travel due to travel restrictions.
In addition to travel restrictions, the government has taken measures such as imposing a curfew, in addition to shutting down government institutions, schools, colleges and universities to contain the spread of the virus within the community.
Maldives now has 19 confirmed and six active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 13 recoveries. Despite the three confirmed cases of Maldivians, no local to local transmissions are recorded.
The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected over 938,491 people and claimed over 47,251 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 194,599 people have recovered.
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