Police begin issuing new shopping permits

Police have begun issuing new shopping permits for Male’ City residents.

The new permits come as part of easements introduced to the lockdown order on the capital. Police have now begun issuing the permits which will allow three people to go outdoors for shopping purposes for two hours. Previously, the permits were for one individual from each household for just one hour.

A tweet sent out by the Police today read that each household will get three permits for three adults only. They will be allowed to spend two hours outdoors for shopping purposes without any zonal restrictions on one day of the week, unlike previously. The electricity meter number of the apartment or household will be required for the application to obtain a permit.

Each person will get 1 day for 2hrs without zone restrictions. But each household gets 3 permits. Eg:
Ali won't get 2 days.Each person gets 1day for 2hrs. But Ali, Aisha & Fathmath live in the same household. So their household will get 3 days and 6hrs.#COVID19Maldives https://t.co/SutMtKyXPg

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) May 29, 2020

Shopping permits will be issued from 9:00 to 21:00. Applications have to be made via the Police Portal.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen, speaking in a presser last night, cautioned the public to remain aware and alert for the virus despite the easements introduced. He stressed on the importance of social distancing and following the instructions of health officials such as wearing a mask.

“These passes are not to meet up with friends or to go from one household to the other. We request everyone to adhere to the instructions and guidelines of HPA when heading out with these permits.” Said the ACP.

Male' City was under a full lockdown and curfew since April 15 after a community case of COVID-19 was identified in the city. After more than a month, authorities rolled out some easements due to a manageable situation of the virus in the capital.