MALE, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives has declared a partial curfew in the Greater Male region as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported on Thursday.
Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru, using powers vested in him under a declared state of public health emergency, has imposed a partial curfew from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time in the Greater Male region starting from April 2.
The curfew places restriction on public transport, private vehicles and pedestrians during curfew hours. Additionally, individuals are banned from gathering in public in groups larger than three even during non-curfew hours.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has also instructed retailers in the Greater Male region to close from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time, while eateries and delivery outlets are closed from midnight to 6:00 a.m. local time. Additionally, construction activity in the region will stop between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time.
Meanwhile, the HPA has decided to expand a ban on checking-in foreigners at guesthouses and city hotels in Greater Male to the whole country. Tourists currently checked-in will be allowed to remain until the completion of their booking period.
According to the HPA, essential services will be exempt from the curfew including on-duty security forces, law enforcement, health workers, waste management, telecommunication providers and banks.
The Maldives has confirmed 19 cases of COVID-19, four of whom are local citizens.
The country is currently under a declared state of health emergency and has suspended issuance of visas-on-arrival as a precautionary measure against the pandemic.
