COVID-19 measures extended by another week

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has made the decision to extend the special measures implemented in Maldives to control the spread of COVID-10 by another one week.

Maldives tightened measures in face of a third wave of COVID-19 on March 4.

HPA, in a declaration signed by Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakr, announced the measures will remain in place for another seven days, starting this Thursday.

The measures extended by another seven days:

• 11:00 pm – 04:30 am curfew
• Ban on public gatherings of more than five people
• Closure of cinemas, movie theaters
• Closure of athletics tracks
• Closure of parks
• Suspension of face-to-face classes in colleges, universities
• Ban on group exercise/sports activities

Some of the measures are designed to remain in effect until decided otherwise by HPA. This includes closure of schools for preschool and nursery students, and requiring those who travel from Male’ to other islands with special permits to present proof of a COVID-19 PCR test taken maximum 72 hours prior to departure.

Maldives has 21,961 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 142 new cases on Tuesday. 19,519 have since recovered, while 64 have died from complications.

The country currently has 2,371 active cases. 118 of the patients are hospitalized.