Police warn action against people found outside during curfew hours

Maldives Police Service, on Tuesday, warned the agency will take action against people found outside without a valid reason during curfew hours.

With the beginning of phase two of the relaxation of the lockdown on the capital this week, residents of Male’ City and its suburbs Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’ are now allowed outside without a permit from 05:00 am to 10:00 pm.

It marks the first time for residents of the populous Maldivian capital to be allowed outside without a permit in two months.

Maldives Police Service announced in a statement via its official Twitter account that while people are allowed outside from 05:00 am to 10:00 pm, the police will take action against people found outside without a valid reason from 10:00pm to 05:00 am.

Violations of coronavirus restrictions are punishable with arrests and fines, depending on the severity of the violation.

Maldives identified its first coronavirus case on March 7, and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic four days later on March 11.

While coronavirus cases had initially been restricted to resorts and safaris, and later quarantine facilities holding inbound travelers, Male’ City identified its first coronavirus case on April 15, prompting a city-wide lockdown and a nationwide ban on nonessential travel.

The populous Male’ City has since become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, contributing to over 90 percent of the total cases.

Maldives has confirmed 2,065 coronavirus cases, out of whom 1,450 have recovered and eight have died from complications.

35 percent of the 2,065 coronavirus cases in the country are Maldivians, while the remaining 65 percent are foreign nationals. 1,087 people – making for 52 percent of total coronavirus cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the coronavirus cases include 726 Maldivians, 192 Indians, 29 Nepalese, and 11 Italians and 11 Sri Lankans.