The Economic Ministry also advised that all cafés, restaurants and other establishments serving food and beverages to the public were required to follow guidelines set forth by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in relation to operations and service hours.

A little over one week ago, the Economic Ministry provided an extension up to 1 am to the opening hours of cafés, restaurants and other such establishments in a directive on 24 January. However, the opening hours of establishments that serve food and beverages of the public have been changed due to the increased number of positive Covid-19 cases being reported in the country.

With the new regulations being implemented, the Ministry of Economic Development has announced that cafés, restaurants and other establishments serving food and beverages to the public can only remain open between 5am and 10:30pm, effective from 3 February.

The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) confirmed on Tuesday that the new variant of Covid-19, reported to be more virulent, is spreading in the Maldives, and that roughly 30 percent of new cases being reported in recent days correspond to the new variant.

HPA has now announced a curfew for the Greater Male' region between 11pm and 4:30am, effective Wednesday, with an additional ban on vehicles in the capital between 8:30pm and 4:30am.

On Wednesday, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) held a press conference with HPA to advise members of the public to be extra cautious in adhering to the curfew and vehicle ban being implemented in Male', noting that authorities would no longer be hesitating to take action against and fine those violating the new regulations.

While the HPA has strengthened Covid-19 health and safety measures across the country to prevent the spread of the virus, the number of new cases being reported daily in the country have been on the rise. A mask mandate will be brought into effect for all inhabited islands of the Maldives beginning 7 February.