The government has reopened sports centers and facilities across the Maldives capital, which were closed following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment closed sports centers across the Greater Malé Region on March 15.
In a circular released on Wednesday, the ministry noted that the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has permitted to resume sports under the measures placed to adapt to the new normal and that this was followed by the opening of sports centers across the region.
However, the ministry stressed that sports centers could be closed down at any time, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With this, a number of national sports teams have begun training sessions on Wednesday. This includes the National Badminton Team.
Earlier, the national teams for table tennis and cricket also resumed practices.
A set of guidelines to be followed has also been listed by the ministry:
- Minimum 30 players allowed inside centers at once
- Enforcing the use of face masks
- Avoid participating if players exhibit symptoms
- Keeping bags at a reasonable distance from one another
- Avoiding sharing bibs
- Hand-washing for at least 20 seconds before leaving their homes
- Avoiding touching the nose, mouth, eye areas after touching surfaces
- Immediately showering, washing jerseys upon reaching home
- Bringing own water bottles
- Practice hygiene, having own bottles of sanitizer on hand
- Adhering to instructions and guidelines set by the HPA
A lockdown was declared across the Greater Malé Region on April 15, after authorities discovered the very first community transmission. Having revealed that the lockdown had proven to be effective, authorities began relaxing restrictions and measures on May 29. The country is currently in phase three of the lockdown ease plan.
