Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has announced further movement restrictions in the Greater Male’ Region, following a second wave of COVID-19 cases.
Announcing the latest measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the Maldives, HEOC revealed entry and exit within the Greater Male’ Region has been banned starting from August 4. A special permit will now be required to enter or exit Male’ for individuals travelling for essential purposes.
Furthermore, HEOC also announced the curfew hours imposed in the Greater Male’ Region has been extended. As such, the curfew will now run from 2200hrs to 0500hrs. A police permit will be required to go outside during these hours.
HEOC also announced shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses will be required to close at 2130hrs, in order to provide 30 minutes for staff to return home before curfew. HEOC revealed anybody found outside without a police permit during curfew hours will be fined. Healthcare workers and individuals doing shift duty have been instructed to present their employee identification if stopped by police officers during curfew hours.
In addition, HPA has mandated masks to be worn in public in Male', and the other 10 islands which have active cases of COVID-19. HPA has also urged residents of other islands to wear masks in public, with cloth masks recommended for now.
The new movement restrictions have been enforced just over a month after the lockdown imposed in the capital was lifted. The spread of COVID-19 has accelerated rapidly since the lockdown and travel restrictions were lifted.