Authorities have fined five local food outlets for violating the service suspension implemented by the government earlier this week.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that two cafés that violated the set protocols were fined on 20 March for providing Shisha services to customers.

The government ordered all food outlets to halt Shisha services from 12am, 19 March onwards as a precaution against the fast-spreading Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Further, the authorities also fined three food outlets for providing dine-in services despite the government banning dine-in services at local cafés and restaurants from Sunday onwards.

All five outlets were fined MVR 5,000.

Local restaurants, cafés and all food outlets in the Greater Malé Region closed their doors for public service from 12am, Sunday onwards. This was ordered by the Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru under the powers vested to her under the Public Health Act. However, customers are allowed to order food to go.

This comes at a time the government spokesperson for all things Covid-19, Mabrook Aziz has been pushing business operators and food outlet owners to close their doors as a precautionary measure against the spread of the fatal infection in the country.

The spokesperson urged people to leave space between each other while queuing for take-away services and practice caution during coughing and sneezing.