Health Protection Agency HPA has extended the restrictive measures it had taken to deter the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives as the third wave of the infection continues to wreak havoc in the country.
In an announcement today, HPA said that under the powers vested to the Director-General of Public Health as stipulated in the Public Health Act, the Agency had extended the restrictive measures it had taken for 7 days by a duration of 7 additional days starting from the 18th of March 2021.
This includes both the curfew and the vehicle ban currently in place in the Greater Male' Area of Male', Hulhumale, and Villimale.
With this change, HPA had also extended the ban on gatherings of more than 5 people in public in the Greater Male' Area while cinemas, movie theaters, public parks, and running tracks must remain close for a further week.
HPA had also ordered the shutdown of cafes and restaurants for dine-in customers from 08:00 pm onwards although such establishments are allowed to offer takeaway and delivery services till 10:30 pm.
The agency extended the measures as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country with the HPA reporting 142 new cases in the country last night.
HPA had said that there are currently 2,371 active cases of the pandemic in the Maldives while 118 COVID-19 patients remained hospitalized for further treatment.
HPA added that a total of 21,961 had now contracted the pandemic here in the Maldives and that 19,519 have since recovered from the fast-spreading illness.
The global pandemic has claimed the lives of 64 individuals in the Maldives and this includes 57 locals and 7 foreigners.
