Lockdown extended; being eased in phases

The lockdown imposed on Male' area in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended with eases.

The Maldives imposed a strict lockdown on the Greater Male' Area on April 17 after the first local transmission case of COVID-19 was detected in capital Male'.

Speaking at a press briefing held by the National Emergency Operations Centre on Wednesday, Health Minister Abdulla Ameen said the country has reached a new stage in its fight against COVID-19.

Announcing new eases under the lockdown status, Minister Ameen said the new stage is expected to last atleast two weeks. The eases granted include allowing more than one person from each household to leave the house, increasing the amount of time allowed outside, and extending the permitted zones. Under the new changes, three people from each household will be allowed to go outside twice a week for a duration of two hours. Permits must be sought from the police prior to leaving the house.

Additionally, more opportunities will be granted to local businesses, and the local fish market will reopen. Retail shops, including supermarkets, bakeries, bookshops, hardware shops and pharmacies will be allowed to reopen and some shops will be given the opportunity to take orders online. Workshops will be reopened and banking hours will be increased. Restaurants and cafe's can open for delivery service and taxis and lorries will be allowed to resume services. Health service providers can offer their services online and colleges and universities will also be granted the opportunity for online teaching. Mobile phone shops, electronics shops, fabric retailers, sports shops and cosmetic shops will be allowed to carry out their services online.

The minister said national bank BML will reopen thrice a week for the first two weeks, and five days a week after that. Cafes and restaurants will be granted the opportunity for takeaway services after the first two weeks.

However, mosques, schools and government offices will not be allowed to re-open at this stage, and inter-island travel is still prohibited. The decision will be reviewed after the end of the first two weeks, said the minister.

Maldives has recorded 1476 cases of COVID-19 and 5 deaths. The country recorded 43 new cases over the past 24 hours, and the total number of recoveries is now 242.