Authorities are to allow one individual from each household to go out for essentials, once every three days, amid the ongoing lockdown.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abdulla Fairoosh revealed this via a video press conference held on Saturday night, stressing that the temporary permit is for the procurement of essential supplies for the household.

Those that are granted permission will receive a QR code, which authorities will use to track the individual to ensure that orders are followed. The permit will be valid for an hour.

While the capital is to be divided into 26 zones for this to work, Fairoosh said that those that breach this will be identified as well.

The assistant commissioner added that the decision was made to control the number of people out on the streets during lockdown, and because of the overwhelming number of requests from the public for assistance in obtaining essentials.

He stressed that the population of the city and location of shops were considered when determining the 26 zones, and that while there might be some difficulties in enforcing this but that it is a necessary step.

While Malé City has been on lockdown since Wednesday, it will remain until April 30.