Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed nearly 3,000 residents of Male’ City have been permitted to return home after being stranded in other islands due to the lockdown imposed in the Greater Male’ Region.
MPS stated 2,997 residents of Male’ City have been permitted to return home between April 24 and May 15. This includes 1,923 permits issued through mail and 1,074 permits issued through the police portal. The most number of permits were issued in May 7, when 277 individuals were permitted to return to Male’.
While MPS is issuing permits for residents of Male’ City to return to the capital, the government is also working on facilitating the transport of residents of other islands who are stranded in the capital due to the lockdown. However, due to the community spread situation of COVID-19 in Male’, special measures are being taken before allowing individuals to leave the city. As such, individuals permitted to leave Male’ will be quarantined for 14 days in a government facility and tested for COVID-19 before departure.
The government revealed a final list has been prepared, which includes 1,600 individuals in Male’ City who will be allowed to return to their home islands. The list was prepared after local councils reviewed the application of individuals seeking to return to their respective constituencies.