The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has revealed that a total of 4,838 businesses have been checked through the mass public health inspection, conducted by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Speaking to press on Wednesday night, the center’s spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed that the inspection is the fourth round of its kind and began on September 21. Since then, a total of 3,277 businesses have been inspected in the greater Malé region.

Out of the total, 112 businesses were closed down temporarily, for being in violation of the Covid-19 safety and precautionary guidelines.

103 business establishments have since been opened after they met with the safety requirements provided by authorities. This included 2,534 shops, 586 cafés, 122 salons, 17 gyms and 18 markets.

The public health inspection is also being carried out in residential islands, where authorities have inspected 1,561 businesses thus far. They include 335 food outlets, 1,148 shops, 51 salons, five gyms and 22 markets.

Final results of the mass inspection will be publicized next week, as the fourth round of the inspection will be wrapped up after the weekend, said Dr. Nazla.

Part of the government’s efforts to ensure that Covid-19 safety guidelines and instructions are being adhered to by the general public, government and private offices as well as public transport systems will be randomly inspected under the programme.

The purpose of the inspection is to ensure adherence to Covid-19 safety guidelines at cafés, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, salons and markets. 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 which will bring about a MVR 1,000 fine as well. 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.

The first 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.