20 business establishments were temporarily shut down on Tuesday, for being in violation of the safety guidelines set by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) against the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.

In a Twitter post, the authority revealed that a total of 146 establishments were inspected on August 4.

Out of this, shut down were eight salons/barber shops, seven shops, three cafés and restaurants and two gyms.

The mass public health inspection was initiated last week due to the spike in the number of cases being reported of recent. As such, it was launched a day after Maldives confirmed 100 new Covid-19 cases last Tuesday, which is a record number since the lockdown easing plan was implemented.

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 authority has gazette set guidelines to be followed by each of the establishments after having granted approval to reopen them. Some of the guidelines include placing sanitizers, enforcing the use of face masks as well as ensuring social distancing measures are in place.

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).