Maldives Police Service has taken action against over 3,200 individuals for violating the curfew order in the capital.

At the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC)’s Covid-19 press briefing on Sunday, Superintendent of Police Abdulla Shareef said that majority of the curfew violators are between the ages of 18 and 41.

As such, Shareef said that action has been taken against a total of 2,869 individuals within this age group since the curfew was imposed on August 4.

291 individuals between the ages of 41 and 65 were fined from 4-23 August, as well as two over 65.

The police official added that action was taken against a total of 3,249 people within this period.

Authorities were forced to reintroduce a curfew in the capital as the country saw a surge in Covid-19 cases after entering the third phase on lockdown easing in July. Officials said that this was done so as to avoid returning to a state of lockdown, and was done days after face masks were made compulsory.

Authorities on Saturday announced the decision to strengthen Covid-19 safety measures, including a ban on vehicle movement from 8pm to 5am.

Officials have said that the reason for intensifying Covid-19 safety measures is due to lack of other options, given the country’s current situation.