COLOMBO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A lockdown on Maldives' capital region of Greater Male has been extended by two weeks as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country crossed 1,500, local media reported here Friday.
State media reported that the lockdown, first applied to Greater Male on April 15 and scheduled to end on May 28, has been extended for two weeks until June 11, though a number of restrictions will be eased to resume economic activity.
Shops and private offices are allowed to re-open, while construction can resume in Male and Hulhulmale with the permission of the Male City Council and Housing Development Corporation (HDC) respectively.
Meanwhile, industrial zone workers are allowed to commute between their homes and workplaces, while individuals may procure permits to purchase essential needs, and to operate taxi services in the city.
Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen was quoted by local media as saying that lockdown measures have significantly slowed the rate of spread of the virus, with only 5 percent testing positive on a daily basis.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Maldive stands at 1,513 according to data from the Health Protection Agency. The country has reported five deaths from COVID-19 and 242 full recoveries. Enditem
