A fine of MVR 5,000 will be levied on those who violate isolation or quarantine orders, says the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

According to a statement released on Wednesday, HPA states that instructions for self-isolation imposed under article 12 (c) of the Public Health Act is a precautionary measure taken to prevent further spread of the disease. Hence the statement reads that an MVR 5000 fine will be imposed on those who breach quarantine or orders to self-isolate, as it poses a risk to public health.

Further, HPA states that the identities of violators will be publicly disclosed as per article 82 of the Public Health Act.

This comes at a time when two cases of self-isolation violations have surfaced.

A Maldivian man returning from South Korea - where travel restrictions have been placed on two regions - had been ordered to self-isolate in his home at the capital city’s suburban island Villimalé after developing Covid-19 like symptoms upon return to the country. It has since been revealed that he violated the self-isolation orders as he was not home when the team of HPA officials arrived.

The second violation came from southernmost Addu City, where a Maldivian man had attempted to Meedhoo island in Addu City from South Palm Resort, thus, violating the 14-day ban imposed on all travel between resorts and inhabited islands.

The Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem has earlier stated that self-isolation or quarantine violations fall under reckless endangerment, which is a criminal offence under section 120 (e) of the Maldives' Penal Code of Maldives.

Violating this law results in a minimum prison sentence of one year, seven months and six days whereas the maximum sentence is four years.