Maldives: Authorities impose 24-hour curfew in the Greater Malé area April 15 /update 5

Event

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) placed the capital Malé and the surrounding area under lockdown for 24 hours from 15:30 (local time) on Wednesday, April 15, after a case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was confirmed in the city. The Greater Malé area includes Malé, Vilimalé, and Hulhumalé. During the curfew period, entry and exit from the area will be banned and travel between islands will be suspended. People will be prohibited from leaving home by foot or vehicle, and public transport will also be suspended. Emergency personnel, health professionals, and media-pass holders will be the only persons exempt from the curfew. Contact tracing is being undertaken by health authorities, but it is possible that the curfew will be extended beyond the initial 24-hour period.

On Friday, April 10, the Minister of Health announced the extension of the public health emergency until Thursday, April 30, due to the spread of COVID-19. The emergency was originally declared on March 12 following the World Health Organization's (WHO) classification of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Public spaces have been closed and travel to and from resorts on inhabited islands is suspended. All hotels are barred from taking on new bookings and resorts will close following the departure of guests.

As of Monday, March 20, all passenger vessels, including cruise ships, are prohibited from docking until further notice.

Maldivian authorities previously announced that travelers from or who have transited through Bangladesh, China (exempting Hong Kong), Italy, Iran, Malaysia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the UK in the past 14 days will be denied entry. The same measure applies to those who have traveled from or transited through the French regions of Île-de-France and Grand Est and the German states of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg.

As of April 15, 21 cases of COVID-19 and no associated deaths have been confirmed in the Maldives. Further international spread of COVID-19 is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantine measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.