Health Minister Abdullah Ameen says the government is contemplating making wearing facemasks mandatory as the number of new cases of COVID-19 reported in the country has drastically increased in recent days.
Speaking on Raaje TV’s ‘ Fala Suruhee’ program, Minister Ameen said that there is no apparent reason why wearing facemasks should be made mandatory.
He noted that authorities were pondering on the matter and relevant discussions were being held to make a decision on the issue.
Minister Ameen also said that if the COVID-19 situation continues to deteriorate, authorities might have to make difficult decisions. He highlighted that the most effective way to deter the pandemic is to maintain social distancing and to wear facemasks when going out into the public.
Ameen also said that if the situation worsens there would be actions that need to taken to prevent further damage and urged all to wear masks when going outside.
His comments came on the back of a surge of new cases of COVID-19 in the country with almost 200 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 48 hours in the Maldives.
