Health Protection Agency (HPA) has shortened the curfew imposed in the Greater Male’ Region, with the new curfew set to run from 1600hrs until 0400hrs.
HPA had previously imposed a curfew from 1600hrs until 0800hrs in the Greater Male’ Region. As part of the eased measures announced on June 15, the curfew has been shortened by 4 hours allowing individuals to go out for their morning exercise between 0400hrs and 0800hrs without a permit. During non-curfew hours, which runs from 0800hrs until 1600hrs, a household permit or a special police permit would still be needed when going out.
Furthermore, HPA has also announced individuals are now permitted to pray in mosques individually. However, prayer congregations have not been permitted yet.
Meanwhile, HPA has allowed salons to operate from 0800hrs until 1600hrs after acquiring the required permit. HPA has also allowed construction work to resume in the Greater Male’ Region after obtaining approval from Male’ City Council or Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
Speaking at a press conference, Spokesperson at the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq revealed random sampling has resumed in the Greater Male’ Region as part of efforts to strengthen active surveillance of COVID-19. Noting random sampling and contact tracing had been interrupted due to the large numbers of COVID-19 cases reported in the Male’ area, Dr. Nazla said both have resumed with the decrease in cases in recent weeks. She noted both operations are crucial to determine the level of community spread.