The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has temporarily closed off 27 business establishments, for violating Covid-19 safety guidelines.

This includes 17 cafés/restaurants, nine shops and a salon. A total of 52 establishments were checked on the first day of the mass public health inspection.

HPA initiated a second public health inspection on Wednesday, following the confirmation of over 100 new Covid-19 cases the previous day. A total of 137 new cases were reported on Tuesday; 92 locals, 31 Bangladeshis, nine Indians, four Sri Lankans and a Filipino national. 61 new cases were confirmed on Wednesday.

The purpose of the inspection is to ensure adherence to Covid-19 safety guidelines of cafés, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, salons and markets.

All these places were opened for services during the third phase of lockdown easing, which began on July 1.

A total of 1,475 public spaces were checked during the first mass public health inspection conducted earlier this month.

The inspection work is being carried out together with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Malé City council, Ministry of Economic Development, Maldives Police Service, Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC), Housing Development Corporation and Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO).