Maldives has tightened restrictions to curb the increasing number of COVID-19 cases across the country.
Health Protection Agency (HPA) has reported a record-breaking number of cases in the past few weeks across the Maldives.The daily number of COVID-19 cases reported in the Maldives has hit a new record once again, with 601 new cases reported on May 4.
The measures taken by the government include closing government offices and schools in the Greater Male' Region, in addition to banning movement of land vehicles in the Greater Male' Region from 0000hrs to 0400hrs from May 5 to 10. Although the O'Level examinations are to proceed as scheduled, the government has ordered classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to be held online.
The new measures also include government employees conducting their work at home, and making government services available online. The government will also be closing down parks, sports centres, and tracks, while only permitted sporting events will proceed as scheduled.
The government has also suspended the ease of restrictions for vaccinated travellers, and travel within the Maldives is only allowed during emergency situations. Travellers from Male' to the islands will have to complete a 10-day quarantine, and travellers from India will need to have a negative PCR test and complete a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
At a press conference held by Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), Spokesperson at the President's Office Mohamed Mabrook Azeez said the purpose of the new restrictions is to curb the spread of COVID-19 quickly and to return the country to a state of normalcy. He said the government is willing to increase measures based on the results after 10 days.