The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has implemented a number of precautionary measures against the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, across outlying atolls.
In a circular publicized in the government gazette on Friday, the authority noted that these measures are being implemented under the orders of the Director General of Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru under section 34 of the Public Health Protection Act of the Maldives, at a time a nationwide State of Public Health Emergency is also in effect since March 12.
These measures are to be enforced on all inhabited islands outside of the Greater Malé Region.
As such, the measures include:
- Banning travel between inhabited island unless essential or to seek medical treatment
- In accordance with the measures to be taken under the aforementioned point, local councils are ordered to work with relevant stakeholders to provide essential food, items and supplies to the people
- Permitting movement within the island as well as economic and social activities and general services while keeping the measures in place, in all inhabited islands except for ones that are still under monitoring or have not surpasses 14 days since monitoring measures were lifted
- Maintaining social and physical distancing on the roads as well as adhering to instructions by the HPA and other relevant authorities.
HPA has ordered all institutions and stakeholders to implement these measures accordingly and follow the instructions and measures placed by relevant authorities in order to maintain their responsibilities.
These measures will be lifted or amended in accordance with the extent of the spread of Covid-19 in the Maldives, said the authority.
Following the implementation of the orders, HPA’s publication, 36/2020 has been revoked.
