Criminal Court employee tests positive for Covid-19

An employee at the Criminal Court has tested positive for Covid-19.

The court revealed this via a statement, adding that all hearings scheduled for June 21 and 22 have been cancelled for disinfection, following the confirmation of the Covid-19 case.

Despite this, Criminal Court said that it will ensure that all remand hearings and process order requests by law enforcement agencies continues; these are to be conducted virtually during the disinfection period.

Further noting that contacts of the employee have been identified through contact tracing, the court said that they have been placed on home quarantine as per the Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s orders.

Noting that the court already has many measures in place for the safety of its staff, including that judges and employees now work in two shifts to ensure social distancing protocols are followed.

The Criminal Court had conducted virtual hearings following the Covid-19 pandemic that led to a full lockdown in the greater Malé region, but restarted in-house hearings on June 15.

While the region had been on lockdown from April 15, lockdown easing began at the end of May. While the first phase of the ease plan began on April 29, the country entered the second phase on June 15.