Lockdown on Male’ will remain in place for another 24 hours

Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru, on Thursday, ordered an extension to the lockdown on the Male’ area, meaning the lockdown will remain in place in Male’ City and suburban Hulhuamale’ and Vilimale’ for another 24 hours.

The original 24-hour lockdown order had been issued at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, and had been prompted by the emergence of the first COVID-19 case in the capital – a patient with no recent travel history overseas nor contact with any other positive cases. Two others who had contact with the patient have since tested positive, including a toddler – a child of the first patient.

The following measures will remain in place during the lockdown:

• Ban on vehicles and persons out on the streets in Male’, Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’
• Suspension of public transport services in Male’, Hulhumale’, and Vilimale’
• Ban on transport in and out of Male’, Hulhumale’, Vilimale’ and Gulhifalhu

The following are exempt from the order:

• Police and military officers and their vehicles
• Healthcare workers and their vehicles
• Ambulances
• Individuals with a pass from National Emergency Operations Center
• Medias with a pass from National Emergency Operations Center

HPA has announced that Maldives Police Service has been authorized to impose all necessary measures and make arrangements to facilitate access to essential services in the enforcement of the order, based on individual circumstances.

As such, the police have set up a hotline – 3034444.

People who require venturing out for access to or facilitation of essential services during the lockdown are required to call 3034444 and register, or use the web link https://police.gov.mv/permit/ and register online.