The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that over 4,000 business permits have been issued to individual businesses.

Joining the press briefing held at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) on Thursday night, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen revealed that a total of 1,380 business permits had been issued in the period between Wednesday and Thursday night.

The authority has also issued a total of 3,534 permits to supporting staff of these businesses.

Further, a total of 9,739 delivery permits have also been issued through the police online portal.

Also speaking at the press briefing, Registrar of Companies, Mariyam Wisam revealed that the decision to issue business permits through the police permit was made by the Covid-19 task force.

Those who are yet to receive permits for requests they have made earlier at the Malé City Council have been urged to apply through the police portal.

Police began issuing business permits on Thursday, whereas the permits were earlier issued through the city council.

On May 29, authorities began implementing the lockdown ease plan and is currently in phase one, where a number of precautionary measures are still in place. Under the first phase, a number of shops have been permitted to open its doors for services from 9am to 9pm.

Businesses that are allowed to operate during phase one of the ease plan include supermarkets, bakeries, corner stores, bookshops and hardware stores.