Government offices to remain closed next week

The government of Maldives is set to remain closed the next week as well due to the situation with the Covid-19 pandemic virus.

The President’s Office stated that the decision by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was based upon the technical advice and instructions of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC). The NEOC had recommended the closure to be kept in place due to a risk of increased infected cases of the virus in the Maldives.

Despite the closure, the President has also decided for arrangements to be made for civil servants to continue with necessary work at home, open and operate offices with the least number employees if a situation warranted it, and conduct any operations or services that can be provided online.

The President also requested the public to remain at home during the situation since it was the most important step that can be taken by the public as a preventive measure against the virus. The President also requested the public to refrain from going outside unless it was necessary.

This is the fourth week of government closure due to the virus. The government has also imposed a three-hour curfew in Male’ city as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus. Restaurants and cafés have also been closed and the government has also instructed the public against groups of more than three people when outdoors.

The Maldives has so far confirmed 19 cases of the virus. Currently, there are only four active cases as 13 have made full recoveries since. The 13 that recovered are all foreigners, while the four under treatment are locals who returned from the UK. Two Italian tourists departed from the country before their test results were received as positive. the two tourists had completed their mandatory quarantine periods when they departed.