Health Emergency Operations Center HEOC says it is now mandatory to wear facemasks in islands with active cases of COVID-19 as part of the measures to control the global pandemic.
Speaking to reporters today, Deputy Director General at Health Ministry Aishath Samiya said that 10 islands have reported COVID-19 cases and that wearing masks in public would now be mandatory in these islands.
She added that it is also mandatory to wear masks when traveling between islands to further prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Samiya also said that authorities are now recommending that people living in islands without any reported of COVID-19 to also don masks when going outside.
She highlighted that it would be difficult to acquire health grade masks at each island and that health experts have recommended that the general public can wear clothe masks.
Samiya said that this would also be a good precautionary measure to take considering the number of individuals who have traveled to the islands from Male’ Area where the pandemic is rampant.
Last week, the government made wearing masks mandatory in the Male’ Area, and since last Saturday police have been enforcing the order by penalizing those seen without masks in the public.
Last night, HEOC Spokesperson Dr. Nazla said since Saturday police had cautioned 645 individuals for failing to wear masks while 73 individuals have been fined for disobeying this mandatory order.
