The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced revisions to the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines in place across the country as the number of new cases continue to rise in the Maldives.

HPA gazetted the revisions to Covid-19 health and safety protocols on Tuesday, with the HEOC hosting a press conference shortly after to communicate details to the public.

Wearing masks will be made mandatory while in public in all inhabited islands of the Maldives, effective from 7th February, until further notice. The order specifically states that masks must be worn in a way that covers ones nose, mouth and chin while in public spaces.

The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) press conference detailed that the caseload for Covid-19 was increasing beyond a manageable level, and announced that Covid-19 health and safety measures would be strengthened to control the spread of the virus.

Further, the HEOC revealed that 30 percent of the new infections being reported corresponded to the new, more virulent variant of Covid-19 discovered earlier in the United Kingdom. The HEOC also noted that compliance rates recorded for the Covid-19 health and safety measures in Male' City were below 50 percent at the beginning of February 2021, and that this was contributing to the increased caseload from the capital city.

Revisions to the Covid-19 health and safety measures, which will come into effect beginning 3 February for a period of two weeks, include an extension to the curfew in place for the Greater Male' area. Curfew will now last between 11pm and 4:30am, with an additional ban on vehicles to come into effect between 8:30pm and 4:30am. Further, gatherings at parks and other public places have also been banned, with an exception to some parks where citizens will be permitted to exercise or play single-person sports. According to HEOC, the vehicle ban and changes to the curfew hours in Male' City will last for two weeks, and will be revised further based on how well the transmission of Covid-19 in the capital city is contained within the first week.

Additionally, colleges and universities will be required to conduct online classes for a period of two weeks. Pre-schools, nurseries and daycares will also be closed until further notice.

The HEOC has advised all members of the public to be more vigilant in complying with Covid-19 safety protocols, including hand hygiene, masking, and social distancing measures.