Gyms, salons and cinemas are to be closed starting Friday.

The move comes under the efforts to strengthen restrictive measures in a bid to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic across the Maldives capital.

In an announcement the Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that the measure will be effective from 7 May until further notice.

Under the measure, exercise classes will be halted and gyms as well as salons and movie theaters will be closed to the public.

The directive, signed by the Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru, reads that all relevant institutions will be active in enforcing the measure. The public has been urged to cooperate with the authorities in enforcing the restrictive measures.

At a time Maldives is struggling to control a devastating third peak of the pandemic where Covid-19 numbers are being reported as high as 700 over the past few days, healthcare authorities have enforced a number of measures during the concluding week including a four-hour ban on vehicle movement across the Greater Hulhumalé Region followed by a seven-hour curfew from 9pm to 4am.