HPA: People can go to mosques for Fajr prayer during curfew

Health Protection Agency  (HPA) has announced that people will continue to be allowed to attend mosques for Fajr prayer despite the 10:00 pm to 05:00 am curfew which has been announced for the greater Male’ region.

The 10:00 pm to 05:00 am curfew is one of nine measures ordered by Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru on Tuesday. It follows a surge in coronavirus cases with the relaxation of the lockdown in the capital in July.

The measures are:

• Ban on all vehicular and pedestrian traffic in Male’ City, Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’ from 10:00 pm to 05:00 am
• Ban on all services from places which provide food such as tea shops, cafes and restaurants in Male’ City, Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’ from 10:00 pm to 05:00 am
• Ban on gatherings in crowds of more than five people in streets or public locations in Male’ City, Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’
• Ban on functions, ceremonies, assemblies and team sports in Male’ City, Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’
• Ban on travel of persons from Male’ to other islands, except for those who travel to Male’ to access essential services such as medical care
• Banning the use of all entry points to Male’ City, Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’ expect those declared by Male’ City Council
• Requirment for all domestic air and maritime travellers to adhere to HPA’s guidelines, and to wear masks throughout travel
• Ban on visits to houses in Male’ City, Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’ except for essential purposes
• Requirment for all offices (both private and public) to hold meetings virtually, and to adhere to HPA’s guidelines where physical presence for meetings are essential

The following are exempt from the measures:

• Security services
• Employees of healthcare facilities and their vehicles
• Ambulance
• Those with permits from Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC)
• Those who go to mosques to perform Fajr prayer

Meanwhile, those who require emergency medical attention are exempt from the curfew, and those arrive from Maldives whose accommodations are outside of Male’ are exempt from the travel ban on non-essential travel of persons from Male’ to other islands.

Greater public movement following the relaxation of many of the coronavirus restriction in July has led to a surge in coronavirus cases. An increasing number of new coronavirus cases are unlinked to existing clusters, which health authorities warn indicates a wide community spread.

Authorities have urged that people in all residential islands, even those with no confirmed cases, wear masks when in public.

Maldives has 4,446 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 153 new cases recorded this Tuesday. 2,693 of the patients have since recovered, while 19 have died from complications.

The country now has 1,719 active cases. 105 of the patients are hospitalized.