Health Protection Agency HPA has banned non-essential travel between Islands starting from 18:00hrs today as authorities tighten the measures taken in the country’s fight against global pandemic Covid-19.
In a statement HPA said certain restrictive measures would be taken in all islands of Maldives with exemption of Greater Male Area. The Greater Male Area is currently under a 24hrs lockdown following its first positive case of Covid-19.
HPA said effective 18:00hrs today, non-essential travel between the islands would be banned until further otherwise.
HPA also said that Island Councils would coordinate with authorities to provide food securities and other essential items in the Atolls.
It restricted crowd gathering in public places within the islands as part of the measures taken to combat against Covid-19.
HPA highlighted that leisure activity like parties, celebrations, picnics, sport events and other social gatherings should not be helduntil further notice.
Also HPA urged those living in the inlands to abide by the instructions given by healthcare professionals and practice social distancing while also staying indoors unless absolutely necessary.
Authorities have been taking stricter measure after a Maldivian living in Male’ with no recent travel history tested positive for Covid-19. Since then four others have tested positive for the virus in the space of two days.
Officials said contact tracing for the first individual revealed that person attended several social gatherings and have come into contact with more than 200 people. 22 Residences in Male Area and atolls have been placed under monitoring as contact tracing of the individual continue to unravel more disconcerting statistics.
