Health Protection Agency (HPA) has stated that following the detection of three people infected with COVID-19 in the capital Male’, a total of 22 households in the mainland Male,’ suburb Hulhumale’ and the atolls have been placed on lockdown.
A person with no recent travel history tested positive for the virus in capital Male', the first case to emerge in a residential island. The same day, the patient’s one-year-old child tested positive, and another direct contact of the patient tested positive the following day.
HPA revealed on Thursday, 22 houses in the Maldives have been placed on lockdown. They include; 18 houses in Male’ region, a house in K. Kaashidhoo, Ha. Vashafaru, Th. Madifushi and S. Hithadhoo.
Considering that this is a community spread of the disease in the Male’ region, the alert level in Male city has been changed to ‘red’. The government has imposed further stringent measures, and a 24-hour lockdown has been placed in the Male' area.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih addressed the nation on Wednesday and urged the citizens to stay home and comply with the instructions given by authorities. In his emotional address, the president pleaded the citizens to be patient, compassionate, empathetic, to be brave, and to lend helping hands to others at this crucial time.
