Male' City lockdown extended by 14 days

A road of Male' City near the Republic Square is photographed with vehicles of authorized personnel as the city undergoes a nation-wide lockdown. The city was placed under curfew due to the first case of COVID-19 from the city testing positive on April 15, 2020. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)

The lockdown order imposed on the capital of Male' City has been extended for a further 14 days.

A state of Public Health Emergency has been announced in the capital since March 12. The capital was first placed under a full curfew and lockdown on April 15, when a community case of COVID-19 was identified in the city.

The lockdown order has now been extended to May 28, by the Director-General of Public Health as the country braces for a potential surge of virus cases within the period.

During the lockdown, the movement of people to and from the capital will be restricted. Members of the public will not be allowed on the streets except under special authorizations. The order will be in place for Male' City and the surrounding neighboring suburbs of Vilimale' and Hulhumale', in addition to Male'.

The order by the Director-General also stated that improvements regarding the condition of the City would see the residents given some easements as well and advised the public, authorities, and institutions to cooperate and follow the instructions and advice issued.

Lockdown measures will not apply to

Police, MNDF personnel
Health professionals and their vehicles
Ambulances
Personnel with the special passes issued by the NEOC
Media personnel with special passes issued by the NEOC

Those in violation of the lockdown orders are fined by Police and sometimes taken into custody if they are repeat offenders.

Health Minister Abdulla Ameen has previously stated that the lockdown on the Male’ City region cannot be lifted yet and that he did not believe it could be done in the near future as well.

The order is in place to stop the spread of the virus and has so far been hailed as a success in curbing the virus, by Health officials in the country.

The Maldives has so far confirmed 955 cases of the virus, with 51 cases identified tonight alone. The total number of recoveries for the virus currently stands at 40., while it has also recorded four deaths. The most recent one was recorded earlier tonight.

Health professionals in the country have warned that the country could reach its peak of the virus within the next two weeks and urged the public to follow instructions in order to avoid a severe outcome. The projected total for the country currently stands at around 77,000, while the projected figures also show that the country could suffer 900 deaths from the virus.