Two individuals have been fined for entering Kulhudhuffushi City without the required authorization, at a time a nationwide State of Public Health Emergency is in effect.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the two individuals were arrested from the Kulhudhuffushi airport region half past 11pm on Sunday.

They had set off from Kurinbi island in Haa Dhaal atoll in a canoe and arrested were a 28-year-old and a 21-year-old.

The case is under further investigations.

This comes at a time fears of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) have resulted in a lockdown across Kulhudhuffushi City, effective until 12pm, May 1 and travelling has also been banned between inhabited islands.

The lockdown comes under orders of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) following the risk of the disease spreading among the community and in light of the current situation in the city.

Under the lockdown, city residents are banned from leaving their households and will be fined between MVR 500 – 5,000 for doing so.

During this time, the residents have been urged to cooperate with authorities in their efforts to control and contain the spread of the disease, follow the instructions set by relevant authorities and do their part for the community.