Tourism Minister Ali Waheed says 5000 individuals want to go back to their islands amid the lockdown of Male’ area to combat against Covid-19 global pandemic.
Speaking to the media, Minister said numerous individuals currently living in Male’ Area want to go back to their Islands with Covid-19 rapidly spreading in the capital city. He said around 5000 have sought permission to travel back to their islands.
Minister said with the virus wide spread in the capital city, it is not safe to travel from Male’ to the islands. But he said that a number of people who traveled to Male’ for essential purposes are currently stranded in Male’ following its lockdown.
Minister Waheed said the government was working to grant permission to as many people as it can to travel to the islands but only after they complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine. He said authorities were striving to create more accommodations in quarantine facilities to cater for as many people as they can.
He said the government was working to secure 500 rooms from hulhumale for such purposes.
Recently Gender Ministry had released guidelines on how authorities should give priority when granting permission to those requesting to travel back to the islands.
