The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has temporarily closed of 50 business establishments for violating the safety guidelines set in connection to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.

This was revealed by Dr. Nazla Rafeeq, the spokesperson at the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) during Thursday night’s presser.

As such, the spokesperson revealed that a total of 99 establishments were inspected during Thursday alone out of which includes 45 cafés/restaurants, five salons and 49 shops.

Temporarily shut down following inspections were four salons, 24 shops and 22 cafés/restaurants.

Further, out of the 27 business establishments shut down for violating safety guidelines during Wednesday’s inspection, 26 have been reopened after the required amendments were brought and inspected.

While the Health Protection Agency (HPA) had earlier launched a mass public health inspection, the second one was initiated on Wednesday where a total of 52 establishments were inspected.

The second mass public health inspection follows the confirmation of over 100 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday. A record number of over 150 infections were reported on Thursday as well.

Authorities revealed that the inspection revolves around ensuring adherence to Covid-19 safety guidelines of cafés, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, salons and markets, which were opened for services after the initiation of the third phase of the lockdown ease plan on July 1.

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