The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has temporarily closed down 20 business establishments for violating the safety guidelines set against the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.

Medical officer at HPA and spokesperson at the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), Dr. Fathmath Nazla Rafeeq revealed that a total of 235 business establishments were inspected on Wednesday.

This includes 51 cafés/restaurants, 154 shops, five gyms and four markets.

Dr. Nazla revealed during Wednesday night’s press briefing that 20 of them were closed down on Wednesday, including six salons and barber shops, eight shops, three cafés/restaurants and three markets.

Last Wednesday, HPA initiated the mass public health inspection, the second of its kind due to the spike in the number of cases being reported of recent.

The inspection was announced a day after the Maldives confirmed over 100 new Covid-19 cases last Tuesday, which was a record number since the lockdown easing plan was initiated on May 29.

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

The authority has publicized in the government gazette, 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).