National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has announced no police permits will be required for movements between 0500hrs and 2200hrs starting from June 15.
Speaking at the daily press briefing held at the NEOC, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Health Aminath Shaina Abdulla said the public must strictly observe the guidelines and instructions from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) despite the decision to ease the lockdown. In this regard, she urged people to follow instructions from the HPA to avoid public gatherings of more than three people, and observe social distancing, in addition to wearing masks when moving about.
HPA has additionally decided to reopen parks and public spaces as measures taken during the second phase of easing the lockdown. The new instructions issued by the HPA states all retails shops will also be permitted to allow walk in customers between 0900hrs and 2100hrs from June 15 onwards, while cafés and restaurants will still be restricted to delivery services.
As the number of cases reported in the Maldives on a daily basis have significantly reduced, HPA has also decided to open hospitals and clinics next week, after requiring the health service providers to maintain safety guidelines. As per instructions from the HPA, individuals would need to request for movement permits after 2200hrs.
Furthermore, all islands with no reported active cases of COVID-19 have been permitted travelling between the islands and arrangements of domestic air travel is also underway. Despite the ease, people travelling to and from the Greater Male' Region will be required to get approvals.
As part of easing the lockdown, prayer congregations have also been resumed in all islands in the country except for the Greater Male' Region. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Maldives has decreased significantly since the lockdown imposed on April 15 and more than 1,000 patients have successfully recovered from the nearly 2,000 cases reported in the country.
The Maldives has seen 8 COVID-19 related deaths.