Public health authorities will be closing down businesses that are found in constant violation of the health and safety guidelines set forth by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to be followed by establishments providing public services in the Greater Malé Region amid the Covid-19 pandemic, for 24 hours.

Thus far, the public health authority has conducted five mass inspections to check if establishments are adhering to the guidelines set forth against the Covid-19 pandemic. The inspection began in private offices and government institutions during October 2020. These inspections have also been held at food outlets, fitness centers, gyms, salons and markets four times round.

The most recent round of the mass inspection began last week and speaking to press on Sunday night, the Director of HPA, Ahmed Nasir revealed that they have been receiving a lot of cooperation from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Maldives Police Service in conducting the inspections.

Nasir revealed that businesses in violation of the guidelines will be issued a white notice the first time round and repeat offenders will be issued red notices before being shut down for 24 hours, should further violations be discovered. Earlier, HPA was issuing fines for third-time violators.

Stressing that authorities have noticed during the mass inspections that staff as well as customers at some establishments do not adhere to the strict face mask mandate, Nasir noted that they will be issuing fines for those found in violation of the face mask mandate, individually, in the future.

According to the protocol being followed in issuing fines, HPA will be issuing a MVR 5,000 fine for first-time violators, followed by a MVR 25,000 fine for second-time violators and up to MVR 50,000 – MVR 75,000 in fines for repeat offenders.

Repeat offenders may be slapped with fines amounting up to MVR 100,000 for violating the HPA guidelines against the spread of Covid-19 in the island nation.

The ongoing inspection will see authorities check food outlets such as cafés, restaurants and tea shops, gyms and fitness centers, salons, markets, shops as well as vehicles that provide public transport services.

In the most recent public mass inspection, HPA issued red notices to 37 businesses for failing to comply with guidelines.

The fourth round conducted in October 2020 ended with over 3,000 locations inspected and over hundred locations being closed temporarily for failure to follow health and safety guidelines set forth by HPA.

HEOC has noted that mass inspections in the capital city play a critical role in securing the health of the public and to curb the spread of the virus. These mass inspections measure whether places providing public services have enforced social distancing measures, how many people are provided services at given times and whether or not the face-mask mandate and hand hygiene is being observed at the establishments.