Maldives National University (MNU), revealed on Friday, that 67 percent of individuals who took part in the university’s study of socio-economic respects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives support the easing of lockdown measures.

However, 50 percent of them believe measures should be eased in phases, with proper guidelines, while 15 percent believes measures should be eased fully, with guidelines. Two percent votes for the state to ease up restrictions, without guidelines.

According to the survey results publicised by MNU, conducted amongst 2,517 participants, 33 percent of these individuals think the state should not ease up restrictions.

Moreover, 55 percent of participants stated that testing capacity should be increased prior to easing lockdown measures, while 51 percent of participants believe it is important to monitor the public's compliance with Health Protection Agency (HPA)'s guidelines.

A total of 45 percent of them believe that families should be empowered on protective measures and 34 percent want authorities to provide timely updates to the public.

As per the results, 69 percent of participants practice hand hygiene, while 67 percent wear masks and 57 percent practice social distancing.

MNU revealed that one in every five respondents that took part in the survey underwent a COVID-19 test. Out of them, 85 percent tested negative for the virus, while three percent tested positive. The results of 12 percent of samples are still pending.

Maldives presently has a total of 2,913 confirmed and 543 active cases of COVID-19. Thus far, the country records 2,340 recoveries and 15 deaths.

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Maldives' capital Malé recorded a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in the first weeks following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15.

After recording low numbers for several weeks, the recent spike of virus cases has reduced the total amount of recovered patients from 86 to 80 percent.

The number of COVID-19 cases increased after the state initiated efforts to steer the country towards a 'new normal' with the phased easing of lockdown restrictions across the Greater Male' Region. Government offices and businesses including shops, cafe's and restaurants restarted services on July 1 while authorities reopened Maldives' borders for tourism on July 15.

On March 12, WHO classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. To date, the new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 14.1 million people and claimed over 599,400 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 8.4 million people have recovered.

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