The Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has urged the general public to use masks when going out for any reason during a time the disease has been spreading alarmingly within the community in the past few days.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday night, Dr. Ali Latheef stated that the authority did not stress the importance of face masks earlier as the disease was not discovered in the capital city Malé up until 15 April.

However, wearing a face mask at all times if going out these days, is of utmost importance, said the doctor.

While the doctor appealed to all to wear masks when required to go out, he urged everyone to remain indoors and to stay home.

This comes at a time the World Health Organization (WHO) has also taken back what it said earlier about wearing face masks only if symptoms develop.

Governments of some of the countries that have emerged successful in containing the virus also enforced this practice in order to slow the spread of the disease.

The first ever community spread was discovered in the Maldives capital on 15 April and since then, the number of cases reported has been spiraling.