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COVID-19: HPA imposes curfew across greater Male' area

Mariyam Malsa
01 April 2020, MVT 11:38
Traffic on Sinamale' bridge. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI/ MIHAARU
Mariyam Malsa
01 April 2020, MVT 11:38

The Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Wednesday, imposed a curfew on the greater Male' region between 1700 to 2000 hrs, further prohibiting gatherings of more than three persons during non-curfew hours.

Effective from 1200 hrs on April 2, HPA also ordered the cease of public transport between Male', Vilimale' and Hulhumale' during the curfew period.

The following individuals and vehicles are exempt from the aforementioned measures:

- Members of the security forces and law enforcement officials on duty as well as their vehicles

- Employees of hospitals and health care service providers and their vehicles

- Employees of pharmacies and their vehicles

- Uniformed WAMCO employees on duty as well as their vehicles

- Uniformed employees of Ooredoo, Dhiraagu, banks, State Trading Organisation (STO), Male' Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), State Electric Company (STELCO) as well as their vehicles

- Vehicles with the government's 'G' board

- Diplomatic vehicles

- Ambulances

- Individuals that have clearance from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC)

- Vehicles with HPA issued stickers

In addition to the curfew, HPA ordered all retail outlets and stores in Male', Vilimale' and Hulhumale' to remain closed between 2300 and 0600 hrs while cafes and restaurants in the region are instructed to stop providing takeaway services from 0000 to 1600 hrs.

HPA also ordered the halt of construction work at sites in the greater Male' region from 1700 hrs to 0600 hrs.

These measures are declared under the rights afforded to the Health Protection Agency under the state of Public Health Emergency that was announced on March 12.

The cabinet's decision to extend the closure of government institutions, schools colleges and universities for another week as a preventative measure against COVID-19 was announced late Tuesday.

Presently, Maldives records 18 confirmed and five active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 13 recoveries. While there are two confirmed cases of Maldivians, no local to local transmissions have been recorded.

The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected over 858,300 people and claimed over 42,100 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 177,900 people have recovered.

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