The Director General of Public Health has announced a ban on visiting other people’s homes in Greater Male’ area in a bid to cut down on COVID-19 infection rates. The decision was made after the Maldives saw a rapid increase in number of new virus cases over the past week.
The directive issued by DG Maimoona Aboobakur said household visits for non-essential needs are banned. The directive also outlined new measures taken by the government to contain the spread of the virus.
In this regard, the curfew previously imposed on Male’ city was extended by an hour, restricting the public from being outside between 10 pm and 5 am. Shops, cafes and restaurants have to close up by 9.30pm, and gatherings of more than five people are banned in the Male’ area. While entry and exit from epicentre Male’ are also restricted except for those travelling for essential needs such as healthcare, the use of masks when traveling between islands has been made mandatory. Authorities have also instructed offices to cut the number of staff working from office by 50 percent, and encouraged working from home where possible.
The Health Protection Agency, HPA previously made the use of masks when out in public mandatory in the greater Male’ area.
The Maldives has recorded 4,446 cases of COVID-19 and 19 deaths to date. 153 new cases were recorded over the past 24 hours.
