The Maldives Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has forewarned on the days ahead despite three individuals out of the 13 positive cases recovered from the COVID-19 diseases recently.
Minister Ameen made the emphasis on Sunday, 22 March 2020, during the inauguration ceremony of the training program on critical care for COVID-19 patietns at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
The Health Minister asserted Maldives will be facing strong brunts in light of the pandemic that is spreading globally.
Minister Ameen further asserted on the importance of heeding advise from health-care professionals and medical experts during the current circumstances especially.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has taken helm amid the viral outbreak in initiating several safety protocols to ensure limiting the spread of the disease. Minister Ameen had attested to this stating the island nation has taken precautionary steps unlike any other global destination.
Maldives government earlier announced on imposing temporary travel and arrival restrictions on many major countries which include China, Bangladesh, Italy, two provinces of South Korea along with Spain, Germany and two regions of France.
Most of these countries are the most prominent contributors to Maldives in tourist arrivals.
Meanwhile, all local resorts where the virus was discovered have been brought under lockdown prohibiting transport in and out of the islands while tourists and expatriates are restricted from traveling into inhabited islands.
Moreover, all educational institutions; including schools, universities, colleges among other avenues have been temporarily closed down with these institutions continuing their teaching programs via online platforms.
Additionally, guesthouses and city hotels across the country have been restricted from accepting new tourist bookings while the restriction is far more prevalent in the Greater Male' Region.
On Sunday, all cafes and restaurants operating in Greater Male' Region closed down with delivery and takeaway services available.
Maldives confirmed 13 positive cases of the viral pandemic, while 03 individuals who contracted the disease have since recovered while the remaining 10 were still kept in treatment.
