Assistance Commissioner of Police, Ismail Naveen has revealed that a total of 49 individuals have been arrested for breaching the Covid-19 lockdown thus far.

The lockdown was imposed across the Greater Malé Region on April 15, following the discovery of a community transmission of the Covid-19 virus. The lockdown will remain in effect until April 30.

Sharing the latest updates of the Maldives Police Service (MPS)’s efforts against the pandemic, Naveen noted that 47 were arrested from Malé City while two were arrested from Hulhumalé.

18 individuals were arrested for violating the lockdown on Saturday alone, out of which 17 were from Malé and one from Hulhumalé.

Further, Naveen highlighted that a total of 543 individuals have been fined for violating the lockdown in the capital city.

Thus far, 53 individuals have been fined from Hulhumalé and 32 from Villimalé.

167 individuals who were caught out on the streets on Saturday were slapped with fines out of which 139 are from Malé, 23 from Hulhumalé and five from Villimalé.

Under the orders of the Director General of Public Health, violators of the lockdown will be slapped with MVR 1,000 fines the first time round and repeat offenders will be arrested under Article 533 (a) of the Penal Code.

The government has been issuing permits to go outdoors each day since the lockdown was imposed, allowing one individual from each household to go out for essential supplies or other essential needs. On Friday, 60 permits were issued, bringing the total to 4,322 since the lockdown was imposed.