The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced a set of guidelines on action to be taken against those who do not adhere to the the Director General of Public Health's orders during the ongoing state of public health emergency.

Under the new guidelines, law enforcement bodies who violate the Director-General’s orders will face a MVR 5,000 the first time round. Second-time offenders will be fined MVR 25,000, followed by MVR 50,000 and MVR 75,000 fines the third and fourth time. This will be followed by a MVR 100,000 fine for each time afterwards.

HPA revealed that first time offenders among the public will be fined MVR 1,000 followed by a MVR 3,500 fine for second-time offenders. Repeat offenders will be fined between MVR 7,500 and 10,000.

According to the public health authority, the highest amounts will be imposed as fines for those who violate quarantine or isolation guidelines, enter and exit islands or locations under monitoring, or even attempting to hide information regarding symptomatic individuals, or those carrying the disease.

Similarly, those who pave way for individuals with symptoms or those infected with Covid-19 to travel to the island nation will be fined with the highest amount specified under the new guidelines.

Following the publication, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) will enforce these orders, effective Monday night.

The state of public health emergency was initially declared on March 12, four days after the first Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the country on March 7, by then-Health Minister Abdulla Ameen under article 33 of the public health act. It has been extended 10 times since, and the last extension will expire on January 4.

The declaration of a public health emergency allows the director general of public health to take the necessary precautionary measures for the safety of the people.