Authorities have imposed fines on 352 persons for breaching the Covid-19 restrictions across Maldives capital Malé City in a single day.

Speaking to press on Tuesday night, Spokesperson at the President’s Office Mabrook Azeez revealed that a total of 135 persons were fined over the past 24 hours for being in violation of the restrictions imposed across the capital region to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Further, 217 persons were fined for being active on the streets during curfew hours and three were fined for seeking services at cafés, shops, salons and gyms under the joint efforts of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) to implement the Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s directives.

Further, authorities inspected 32 establishments under its mass inspection, including three places that were issued warnings before and 29 additional establishments. No establishments were closed down during the inspection on Tuesday.

Authorities responded to an alarming surge in Covid-19 infections being reported across the island nation by strengthening restrictions including the initiation of a 12-hour curfew from 4pm to 4am in the Covid-19 epicenter Malé City.

Following this, officers of MNDF and MPS have been deployed across the capital region to enforce the measures and take action anyone found to have breached the restrictions.

Other measures implemented across the capital include closing down cafés, restaurants which are only allowed to offer takeaway and delivery services. HPA has also urged civil servants as well as those employed in private companies to work from home in order to slow the spread. Recently HPA also increased the quarantine period for travel within islands to 14 days. Other measures include closing down daycare centers, halting tuition and Quran classes as well as halting physical classes at schools. These measures have since been extended for another fortnight.