Health Protection Agency (HPA) has banned gatherings of more than 5 people in the Greater Male’ Region.
New restrictive measures were announced by HPA on March 4 as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the Maldives. As such, a circular signed by Director General of Public Health Maimoona Abdoobakuru stated gatherings of more than 5 people are prohibited in public places in the Greater Male’ Region, effective from March 5.
Furthermore, HPA has ordered parks, running tracks, cinemas and film theatres in the capital to be closed until further notice. HPA has also banned all sporting and exercise activities, apart from individual exercises.
The measures announced on March 4 include suspending all face-to-face classes of universities and colleges. Preschools and nurseries have also been instructed to suspend classes until further notice.
Meanwhile, HPA has decided to maintain the order to close cafes and restaurants at 2000hrs. Take-away and delivery services would still be permitted until 2230hrs.
HPA has tightened restrictions in the Greater Male’ Region due to the continued surge of COVID-19 cases in the region. HPA confirmed the detection of another 167 new cases in the Maldives on March 4, including 135 cases in the Male’ area, 17 cases in inhabited islands in atolls and 15 cases in operational resorts. There are currently 2,664 active cases, including 180 patients admitted in hospitals or medical facilities. So far, a total of 64 people have died from COVID-19 in the Maldives, including 56 Maldivians and 8 expatriates.