Healthcare authorities have reduced the coronavirus curfew hours in Maldives capital, Malé City.

In a press conference on Tuesday evening, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq, spokesperson of the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) made the reveal, highlighting that this will come into effect on Wednesday for a period of two weeks.

The curfew hours were reduced due to the decreasing Covid-19 case number being reported on a single-day basis since measures were strengthened across the capital region from May 26.

Joining Tuesday’s press to publicize health authorities’ decision on easing current measures in place, Dr. Nazla revealed that the curfew has been reduced from 4pm to 4am, it is currently in effect from 4pm to 8am.

Although the coronavirus curfew hours have been reduced, Dr. Nazla revealed that other restrictions will remain effective for another fortnight.

Some of the other restrictions that will be eased started Wednesday include, allowing individual exercises in public between 4am to 8am without the need for a permit.

In addition, mosques across the capital region will be opened for individual prayers. However, congregational prayers are still not permitted. Schools as well as offices and state institutions are to remain closed for another fortnight, as well as the halt on sports activities, individual exercises exempt.

Dr. Nazla added that the public health authorities are working to publicize special guidelines under which salons and barber shops may resume services. As such, salons are to be allowed to resumed services under a “service plan” to be issued by HPA. Salons will only be allowed to resume services if they pass an inspection by healthcare authorities and under appointment-based rules. Salons may only operate outside the curfew hours. Said guidelines are to be publicized in the coming week.

Further, construction work will also be allowed to resume under the set guidelines and a special permit issued by the city council. Employers are required to forward the site of construction, details of laborers and their accommodation facilities when requesting permits. Employers are however mandated to ensure the hired laborers are not those in isolation or quarantine. In addition, HPA will allow construction work to commence if the laborers are accommodated in one facility and do not visit elsewhere outside of work.

Under the eases announced on Tuesday, no changes have been made to domestic travel, between Malé City and residential islands. As such, Dr. Nazla revealed that the travel restrictions will remain effective for another weeks, including the restrictions on travelers from South Asian countries. HPA is expected to publicize a set of guidelines to ease travel restrictions in the near future.

It was also revealed that Greater Malé Region residents are still required to hold special permits to go out from 8am to 4pm, for essential services. As such, outside of the curfew hours residents may go out to seek services at shops, takeaway services at cafés and restaurants. During the curfew hours, establishments are only allowed to offer delivery services.

The Covid-19 caseload began spiking into the beginning of May, at a time Maldives was able to control a spike in cases into the beginning of the new year, with strengthened measures such as a curfew period and travel restrictions. However, authorities lifted the measures in place in time for the fasting month of Ramadan 1442 as well as the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections held in mid-April, which led to the caseload increasing like never observed before.

Measures were strengthened across the Maldives earlier in May with authorities having imposed a curfew in the capital region from 4pm to 4am. Effective May 26, the curfew hours were extended from 4pm to 8am.