HPA: Vehicle ban to reduce youth public gatherings

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has stated that the prohibition of motor vehicles in Male’ City after 20:00 tonight as a safety measure against the spread of COVID-19 was to reduce public gatherings of youths. 

Under the regulation, motor vehicles on the streets of Male’ City will be prohibited from being driven from 20:00 to 5:00. HPA said that the spread of the virus was most identified from youth public gatherings, according to data. The purpose of the vehicle ban was to reduce such gatherings. 

Motorcycles and motor vehicles are commonly owned by the youth age group of Male’ City, and HPA said that the prohibition will discourage such public gatherings.

HPA said that additional stringent measures in light of the situation will be implemented every week after assessing the situation. 

HPA tweeted today that the number of hospitalized cases based on the caseload over last week had increased significantly, which had necessitated new safety measures. The measures will be revised based on the weekly statistics of the virus.

Statistics of HPA show that the virus is spreading quickly among ages 21-40, and was specifically higher among the male population. 

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Maldives rose to 6,660 last night.