Malé City Council has revealed that they received over 400 messages from individuals stranded in outlying atolls due to the lockdown declared across the Greater Malé Region.

Malé City Council announced that they are seeking information of individuals of these individuals via a circular on Thursday and within 24 hours of the announcement, the council received over 454 messages from those who wish to return to the capital.

Following this, the capital’s Mayor, Shifa Mohamed has sought from the Maldives Police Service (MPS) to make arrangements to bring these individuals back.

The circular notes that these individuals have been urged to text the council’s number, 9955788 before 2pm on May 3.

Individuals are required to include their full names, ID card numbers, permanent and current addresses as well as island of birth, in their text messages.

Additional information that is needed by the council includes contact numbers, e-mail addresses, date of departure from the capital and their reason for return.

While the lockdown was imposed across the region on April 15 after the discovery of the first-ever Covid-19 community transmission, it has been extended until May 14. Due to this reason, several Malé residents are stuck in outlying islands while island residents are similarly stranded in the capital after travelling to the capital for several purposes including medical.

The government has since provided temporary shelter and food for these individuals.