Over 250 spaces have been examined in the ongoing mass public health inspection.

While this is the fourth such inspection being conducted as part of the efforts to control the Covid-19 virus, the inspection launched on September 20 will also focus on government private officers as well as the public transport systems in the greater Male’ area, in addition to service providers.

Speaking at Thursday’s nights Covid-19 press briefing, Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC)’s spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed that a total of 259 spaces have been inspected thus far, adding that the majority of them were up to par with the Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s Covid-19 safety rules.

As such, 254 of them were following the rules; these include 206 shops, 39 cafes, six salons and three markets.

Nazla said that three cafes and one shop were temporarily closed, and will be allowed to reopen once they meet with safety requirements.

While authorities had previously announced that similar programmers will be held in other residential islands as well, the HEOC spokesperson said that these have commenced.

The first mass public health inspection was carried out on July 12 and it was followed by a second one from July 29 to August 8. The government announced a third on August 23.

The fourth inspection will be carried out for two weeks.

The purpose of the inspection is to ensure adherence to Covid-19 safety guidelines of businesses and service providers. All these places were opened for services during the third phase of lockdown easing, which began on July 1.

Without any exemptions, all businesses providing services to the general public will be inspected and those found in breach of the Covid-19 safety guidelines for the first time, will be closed down for 48 hours. They will be granted approval to resume services 48 hours after closing if they amend the issues noticed.

Establishments will be closed down if they are found in violation of the guidelines for a second time, and result in a MVR 1,000 fine. Establishments violating guidelines for a second time will be authorized to open once a 72-hour period lapses.

A MVR 1,000 fine will be imposed on those caught in violation for a third time and they will be shut down for a period of five days.