HDC cancel Eid show, fireworks with increasing Covid cases

Hulhumale Development Corporation (HDC) made the decision on Monday to cancel the Eid show and firework display planned for the upcoming Eid al-Alha due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Maldives. 

After a period of experiencing an extremely low case count, the numbers have surged a total of 1,202 positive cases being recorded within the past week alone. 

In the statement released by HDC regarding this, it was noted that activities involving large gatherings have been stopped due to the increasing number of cases. Hence, some of the biggest items planned for the holiday such as the Eid show and firework display have been canceled. 

Speaking to Sun, the information officer at HDC Ali Mashar said that the corporation will be extending its full support to those organizing activities to celebrate Eid in Male' and Hulhumale'. 

"[We] urge those attending these events to abide by HPA's guidelines, and to wear masks properly. We also request to halt activities involving large gatherings in Male' for the time being."

According to the statistics published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), between the 19th and 25th of June, 528 cases were recorded in the greater Male’ region, 452 people tested positive from other inhabited islands, and from resorts and other accommodations 222 people were positive.

Moreover, 35 percent of the samples from this period tested positive. This is a significant increase in the positivity rate, as the figure was at only 21 percent in the week prior to this.

HPA’s statistics also revealed that last week 51 people were hospitalized for treatment. From this, five people passed away, and 13 people who died from other causes were also known to have tested positive for Covid.