Authorities cannot put the outlying atolls at a risk of a Covid-19 community spread, even though they wish to send the island residents stranded in capital Malé City due to the lockdown, back home, says the spokesperson of the National Emergency Operations Center, Mohamed Mabrook Aziz.

Speaking to press on Sunday night, the spokesperson revealed that about 5,000 individuals had registered to return to outlying islands, however, only 1,600 out of the total fit the category which states that priority will be given to island residents who have been stranded due to the lockdown, with no place to go.

The rest, Mabrook said are Malé residents who are native to outlying atolls.

Highlighting that authorities work to transfer them to facilities in groups every day, Mabrook stated that a total of 598 individuals out of the 1,600 have been quarantined thus far.

Further, the government has released a total of eight individuals after completing their 14-day quarantine period, as of Sunday.

The spokesperson stressed that the government wishes to send those stuck in the Greater Malé Region, back home, however, authorities cannot risk a community spread in the outlying atolls when doing so.

In addition, Mabrook revealed that authorities are working to increase the room capacity at transit facilities where these individuals are taken, before they are tested and released to go back home after 14 days.