Maldives declares public health emergency over COVID-19 outbreak

The Maldivian government, on Thursday, declared a state of public health emergency over the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, effective nation-wide, for the next 30 days.

The announcement was made by Health Minister Abdulla Ameen at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

The Health Minister is authorized to declare a state of public health emergency under the Public Health Act.

Section 33 of Public Health Act sets down the measures which may be taken during a public health emergency. It includes:

• Closure of schools.
• Issuance of orders to ban all public gatherings.
• Issuance of orders to restrict public gatherings in specific locations for specific durations of time.
• Banning or restricting domestic transport.
• Repurposing of property of private citizens as quarantine facilities.

Ameen said the public would be informed of the measures which the government planned on implementing in light of this additional authority, as the situation developed.

He said he made the decision to declare a state of public health emergency in light of World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, and the rapid spread of the virus in neighboring countries and across the world.

Declaring a public health emergency is necessary for Maldives to implement crucial measures to ensure public health safety in face of the deadly virus, he said.

“The government is already implementing crucial measures on a daily basis. We continue to hope for, and continue direct our efforts by treating controlling the spread of this disease in Maldives as our basic duty,” said Ameen.

Eight people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either working or vacationing in resort islands; Kuredu, Sandies Bathala and Kuramathi.

The restrictive measures imposed by Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Kuredu, Sandies Bathala, and Kuramathi were lifted on Wednesday, but areas within the resorts remain cordoned off to hold people identified as high-risk who must remain isolated for a mandated duration.

The decision to declare a state of public health emergency marks the first time for such a move to be made in Maldives.

Ameen urged everyone adhere to the health instructions being issued by government institutions, and to refrain any and all actions which may cause panic.