Maldives Police Service (MPS) has warned of legal action against those who organize and take part in public gatherings and rallies in breach of the guidelines and instructions issued by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement, police revealed that they have received information that certain parties and individuals are planning rallies and gatherings against the order implemented by the Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru restricting gatherings of more than five people at a time a state of public health emergency is in effect.

In this regard, the police institution has urged the general public to adhere to the guidelines and safety measures in place to curb the spread of the infection, to ensure they safety and that of others.

If individuals or parties are found in violation of the guidelines, legal action will be taken against them, warned the police.

RaajjeMV understands that the opposition coalition comprising of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) is planning to stage a protest to pressure the government, the third of its kind at a time the coronavirus has been spreading vastly nationwide.

This comes at a time the opposition coalition member PPM and some of the opposition leaders have been slapped with fines for staging protests in violation of safety guidelines.

These protests have drawn public criticism as they are being staged at a time public health officials are urging public cooperation and to play their part as a responsible citizen to ensure the spread of the virus is curbed at the earliest.