Addu City, Maldives — The Addu City Council has ordered all Restaurants and Cafés in Addu City to temporarily stop dine in service as there is a possibility of having a community spread in the city.
The City Council has informed that starting from 1600hrs of today, all restaurants and cafe’s in Addu City must close until further notice. However, they mentioned that services can be continued via delivery or takeaway method. The Council advised to avoid accepting cash during deliveries.
In addition to this, Addu Council has set several other restrictions as well. They are:
- Closing all food cart (Dhivehi: gaadiya) services in Addu City.
- To take all precautionary measures in the shops in Addu City and to avoid exceeding the maximum persons capacity in the shops.
- To not gather at public spaces and parks.
All of these measures will be effective starting from 1600hrs of February 8, 2021. Along with these measures, the citizens of Addu City are instructed to strictly follow the mandatory mask rule.
The Mayor of Addu City, Abdullah Sodiq has advised the citizens in Addu City to remain at home to contain the spread of Covid-19, with the possibility of a community spread.
While it has been only two days since the first Covid-19 case from the Hithadhoo Cluster was recorded, 15 people related to this cluster case have tested positive for Covid-19 with 44 contacts traced from Hithadhoo.
This Cluster has not only spread across the districts in Addu City, but to GDh. Thinadhoo and currently, the authorities suspect that GDh. Hoadedhdhoo is at risk as well according to local news.
This cluster comes just a couple of days after a major cluster was discovered in Hulhumeedhoo of the same city, in a Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) site. While over 50 samples were taken from the Hulhumeedhoo Cluster so far, 25 people have tested positive for the virus.
However, the Mayor of Addu City, Abdullah Sodiq has informed that there is less chance of a community spread in Hulhumeedhoo compared to the risk in the joint four islands in Addu City. Mayor Sodiq noted that they have so far found 50 primary contacts of the Hithadhoo Cluster and that contact tracing is still ongoing in the city.
A community spread is likely to happen.
Mayor Sodiq stated.
Although Addu City is currently under monitoring status, the situation of the islands are at a normal rate. Addu City, the neighboring island GDh. Thinadhoo has also been placed under monitoring status due to the Hithadhoo Cluster.
