Business and cafe' owners on Sunday, gathered in front of the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), protesting problems caused to the businesses' delivery services by the recently implemented vehicle movement ban.
At present, the government has prohibited driving between 2000 hrs and 0500 hours across the Greater Male' Region.
Approximately 30 individuals gathered at 1200 hrs near convention centre Dharubaaruge where HEOC is established, demanding a meeting with a senior official from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), sparked by the restrictions imposed on Monday.
The protestors called on the government to authorize additional hours for outlets, so they may continue deliveries up to 2300 hrs.
Maldives Police Service also barred individuals from protesting infront of HEOC, dispersing the crowd to road further north of the centre.
Upon failing to organize a meeting with any HPA official, demonstrators ended the protest at roughly 1400 hrs, stating that rallies would continue to be held until the matter was resolved.
According to local media Mihaaru, a member of the Restaurant Association of Maldives noted that the group was able to meet and share their concerns with two officials from HPA on Saturday.
However, at the time, authorities did highlight that the restrictions would stand until further notice.
While the prohibition of vehicular movements is likely to impact the financial performance of cafe' restaurants, all food outlets are able to operate their businesses until 2130 hrs.
Police previously noted that the ban would apply exclusively to vehicles and does not impact normal curfew hours. Regular curfew hours are currently limited from 2200 hrs to 0500 hrs.
After recording significantly low numbers in the months of May and June, the island nation recorded a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases per capita, indicating an alarming community spread in the country.
The number of COVID-19 cases skyrocketed after the state initiated efforts to steer the country towards a 'new normal' with the phased easing of lockdown restrictions across the Greater Male' Region. As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Maldives' capital Malé continues to record a significant number of COVID-19 cases, similar to the first weeks following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15.
The island nation now records total 6,779 confirmed and 2,531 active COVID-19 cases, along with 4,222 recoveries and 26 deaths.
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