Hiriya School has been allocated as a temporary shelter for those stranded in the Greater Malé Region due to the lockdown declared on April 15, following the first community transmission of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Malé City Council revealed that they have begun accommodating individuals inside the temporary shelter established in Hiriya School. These individuals include resort employees as well as island residents who are stuck in the capital after visiting for different purposes including medical reasons.

Nine individuals have been provided shelter and food at Hiriya School, said the council.

Further, the council revealed that they have made arrangements in accordance with the social distancing protocol pushed by the government, when providing shelter for those in need.

Malé City Mayor Shifa Mohamed has since revealed that this is being done in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

While the Gender Ministry has revealed that over 100 individuals were rescued in the operation carried out in cooperation with the Maldives Police Service (MPS), the authorities have since been using several schools including Imaaduddin School, Ghaazee School as well as Rehendhi School as temporary shelters for those in need.

Further, the Football School in Hulhumalé is also being used as a 24-room shelter.

As of Sunday, there are a total of 85 individuals under state care including 13 resort employees, 11 in the region after being released from prison and six individuals who were forced to evacuate their homes after failing to pay rent. Others include 15 homeless individuals, 12 who were in the region for medical purposes, eight for other purposes and 20 drug users.