A total of 278 individuals have been slapped with fined for violating the face mask mandate, so far.

Spokesperson at the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), Dr. Nazla Rafeeq on Saturday revealed that officers of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) who are active on the streets since the mandate came into effect, had issued warning to a total of 1,356 individuals by Saturday.

As such, 135 were issued warning within 24 hours, with fines being imposed on 62.

Wearing face masks in public spaces was made mandatory in the beginning of the ongoing month, following an announcement by the President’s Office, in order to help authorities’ control and contain the spread of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Only children below the age of two, those seeking services at food outlets and individuals out for physical activities such as running and exercising, are exempt from the mandate.

Authorities have stressed that avoiding a second lockdown is “in everyone’s interest”.

On August 1, police began enforcing the mandate strictly and those caught violating the mandate will be fined by MVR 1,000.

Authorities imposed a seven-hour curfew in the Greater Malé Region on Tuesday, effective between 10pm and 5am as part of the stricter measures being introduced in light of the rising cases of the global pandemic in the Maldives, which has triggered great concern.

Within 24 hours, 157 individuals were issued warnings for violating the curfew order and 79 were fined.