The government has extended the period of suspension of congregational prayers in the Male' area until April 18. This is the fourth time the duration has been extended since March 18 when the government first suspended congregation as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.
In addition to congregational prayers in the Male' area, the Islamic Ministry had also suspended congregational prayers in local resorts. This includes the mandatory Friday prayer congregation in both Male' area and the resorts. With the most recent extension, next week's Friday congregation will also be suspended.
Maldives has recorded 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19 thus far. Out of these, six cases are currently active, while the remaining patients have recovered from the illness. Two active cases are of foreigners who have already departed from the Maldives, and the remaining four are all locals who returned to the archipelago from the United Kingdom.
The government has taken stringent measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the Maldives, including enacting a series of measures to prevent unnecessary public gatherings; imposing travel restrictions such as banning flights from high risk countries, prohibiting travel between resorts and inhabited islands, restrictions on arrival visas, and the requirement for all Maldivians returning from abroad to be quarantined for a two week period.
