Male’ curfew hours shortened to 20:00-04:00; cafes allowed to reopen for dine-in services

Maldives has announced significant easements in the restrictions imposed in the capital to curb the spread of COVID-19, including shortening curfew hours, allowing mosques to reopen for congregational prayers, and allowing cafes and restaurants to reopen for dine-in services.

Maldives strengthened restrictive measures, especially in the congested greater Male’ region, following an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases last May. The measures proved effective in driving down numbers, and authorities have been gradually easing the restrictions this June.

The new easements, scheduled to take effect on Thursday, July 1, were announced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a press conference on Tuesday.

Maldivian capital currently has a curfew from 18:00-04:00 hours. Four hours – from 04:00-08:00 hours – are allowed for people to go out unaccompanied without a permit for exercise, and police-issued permits are required to go out during non-curfew hours – and only for essential needs.

President Solih said that starting July 1, curfew hours in the capital will be shortened to 20:00-04:00 hours, and that people will also no longer require police-issued permits to go out during non-curfew hours.

He said that mosques in the greater Male’ region, which were allowed to reopen for individual worshippers this June, will be allowed to resume congregational prayers.

However, congregational prayers will need to be performed with physical distancing as a precautionary measure.

Another restrictive measure eased is the ban on dine-in services at cafes and restaurants.

Cafes and restaurants are currently permitted to provide only takeaway and delivery services. Takeaway services are permitted from 08:00-18:00 hours, and delivery services are permitted until 00:00 hours.

President Solih announced that starting July 1, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to open for dine-in services during non-curfew hours.

The restrictive measures on cafés and restaurants have resulted in massive financial losses to restaurateurs.

The decision to allow dine-in services comes after members of Restaurant Association of Maldives (RAM) staged a demonstration at the Alimas Carnival area of Male’ City last Monday, complaining of lack of sufficient response and support from authorities despite repeatedly sharing their concerns.