Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has stated the lockdown imposed in the Maldives cannot be lifted under the current circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
Speaking at a press conference held at the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), Health Minister Ameen said the clusters and regions of spread are currently being identified, adding the lockdown is crucial to control the spread of COVID-19. The minister said although the lockdown was imposed for 14 days, the lockdown cannot be lifted at the end of 14 days under current circumstances. He noted it will take time for the country to return to a normal situation, and called on the public to be ready for an extended period under lockdown.
Speaking further, the health minister said it is likely that authorities could be forced to quarantine individuals at home, considering the current rate of spread and the number of direct contacts of each positive case. He said COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in Male’ City, noting further control measures would be required to curb the spread of the disease.
Minister Ameen said discussions are being held daily between doctors, field specialists, and technical experts on ways to control the spread of COVID-19. He said the current plan is to transfer all COVID-19 patients to a separate island for treatment.
Furthermore, the health minister said non-compliance to the instructions given by health authorities could incapacitate the healthcare system of the country. Noting the public has been cooperating with the authorities on the control measures so far, the minister said cooperation is needed now more than ever, as this is the most crucial period to curb the spread of the disease. He added the priority is to ensure the number of cases does not exceed the capacity of the healthcare system.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the Maldives has reached 137, with the majority of cases identified from Male’ City.