Over 12,400 frontline workers in the country's Covid-19 response efforts, have received risk allowance.

Covid-19 Frontline Allowance was introduced by the government as a risk allowance for those working in the frontlines in response efforts, depending on their level of risk.

As per the latest information updated by the Ministry of Finance on July 11, MVR 165.72 million has been issued as allowances to 12,479 frontline workers.

The frontline workers have been grouped into three categories, which determine the amount of allowance to be paid. The categories are high risk, medium risk, and low risk.

The ‘high risk’ category comprises of frontline workers who are in direct contact with patients who have Covid-19, during their work. Staffs whose nature of work is as such, are to receive a daily allowance of MVR 500. This is the highest of all the allowance amounts, as these workers are exposed to high risk levels.

Those included in the ‘medium risk’ category are workers who operate around high-risk individuals. Some high-risk individuals include those having chronic kidney disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases, dementia, diabetes (type one or type two), down syndrome, heart conditions, thalassemia, smokers, and pregnant women among others. The allowance for medium risk frontline workers is MVR 250 daily.

Lastly, ‘low risk’ frontline workers are those who work at the Health Emergency Operation Centre for over six hours every day. These individuals are those who are ineligible for the ‘high risk’ and ‘medium risk’ category, but still work in procedures and treatments concerning with Covid-19. Their allowance is set as MVR 200 daily.

The government began giving these allowances in May of 2020.