Banks reopen for a few hours, and people abandon social distancing

The Maldives, in an effort to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 within local communities, closed government offices and banks to encourage social distancing. Banks re-opened for a few hours this Thursday, prompting large crowds of customers, and the abandonment of the practice of social distancing.

Maldives has extended the closure of government offices and banks for another week; with the central bank and other commercial banks scheduled to reopen only on Monday and Thursday.

MMA was open from 9 am to 11:30 am to process bank notes, and from 9 am to 11 am to process coins, while commercial banks were open for three hours.

The reopening of the banks for the short three-hour time span prompted a large crowds of customers to gather at the banks. The queue at the Bank of Maldives (BML) service center in Ameenee Magu spilled out into the street.

The scene was similar at the Bank of Ceylon, located in Boduthakurufaanu Magu.

Health experts recommend a distance of six feet to minimize the risk of human-to-human transmission of COVID-19.

While many gathered at the banks were wearing face masks, none practiced social distancing. Everyone stood toe-to-toe.

Maldives has also announced a three-hour curfew in Male’ City and suburban Hulhumale’ and Vilimale from 5 pm to 8 pm. It has also banned crowds of more than three in the streets.

Maldives Police Service has warned repeated violation of the orders will be met with a MVR 1,000 fine.

Total 19 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, including two Italian nationals who departed from Maldives before they were identified as positive for the disease.

13 of them, all foreign nationals who were either vacationing or working in resorts or safaris, have since recovered; and the number of active cases stands at four, all of whom are Maldivian nationals who travelled back from the UK.