Closing of Maldives' borders was not an easy option, was our bread and butter: health minister

Decision to close Maldives’ border was not an easy one, Health Minister Abdulla Ameen has stated.

The minister made the statement during the virtual meeting held between the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) Health Ministers, on Thursday, regarding the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Noting that these are “unprecedented and uncertain times”, Ameen noted that the Maldives took the issue “very seriously” since it emerged in January and while “many countries were still debating the levels of threat from the yet unknown mysterious viral infection”.

The minister also stated that an early risk assessment showed that Maldives, “a country open to the world and of high concentration of visitor traffic”, was a high-risk country for Covid-19.

Hence, despite the country’s “economic and daily livelihood heavily dependent on tourist dollar” the minister said that the government had to “make very difficult but decisive interventions”.

Further noting that the country continued to face various challenges in the efforts to prevent a widespread of the disease, Ameen stated that “restricting travel from certain countries also had undesired consequence of challenges in the importation of goods and the general import export sector”.

He emphasized that the country is “almost 100 percent” dependent on foreign imports and markets.

While phase two of the government’s interventions include mandatory quarantine, cancellation of on-arrival visas and finally allowing only arrivals of Maldivians, the health minister said that they are currently undergoing preparations for phase three with the possibility of the situation escalating.

Maldives has confirmed a total of 19 Covid-19 cases. While 13 have recovered, four are being treated in the country. They are all locals that returned from the United Kingdom, Two foreigners whose test results came back positive after departing from the country, are being treated abroad.

While authorities imposed a three-hour curfew in the capital from April 2, the measure was lifted on Thursday. However, public gatherings of more than three people are still not allowed, at all times.