Food and shop delivery hours announced

Maldives Police Service, on Thursday, announced the food and shop delivery hours to follow during the lockdown on Male’ region.

Male’ City identified its first COVID-19 case on Wednesday, prompting a 24-hour lockdown on Male’ and its suburbs – Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’ – as authorities work on identifying the source of the outbreak and isolate all those who may have been exposed to the disease.

It marks the first outbreak of COVID-19 in a residential island, and the emergency alert status in Male’ has been upped to ‘red alert’.

Food and shop delivery timings:

0900 - 1400hrs
1500 - 1800hrs
2000 - 2300hrs #COVID19Maldives

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) April 15, 2020

Those who provide delivery services are required to wear a permit issued by the police.

Venturing out of homes during the lockdown, even for access to essential services, without the permission of the police is prohibited. And the opening of offices expect for those deemed essential is prohibited for as long as the emergency alert status remains ‘red’.

Male’ identified its first COVID-19 case on Wednesday morning. The patient has no recent travel history overseas nor had any contact with any other positive cases. Two others who had contact with the patient have also tested positive, including a toddler – a child of the first patient.

14 more people who are contacts of the first patient have developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and have been moved to Hulhule’ Island Hotel (HIH) for isolation, while 54 more contacts have been moved to quarantine facilities.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has stressed the biggest precautionary measure against the disease is to stay home and practice good hygiene.