Curfew violation will be met with MVR 1,000 fine

Maldives Police Service, on Wednesday, warned that the repeated violation of the curfew ordered Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru will be met with a MVR 1,000 fine.

The Director General of Public Health has ordered a three-hour curfew in Male’ City and its suburbs Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’ from 17:00 to 20:00, effective this Thursday.

Maldives Police Service issued a statement regarding the curfew order on Wednesday night, stressing that the curfew order, along with all others orders issued by the Director General of Public Health, will be enforced by the agency.

Those who are out in public in violation of the curfew, and those who are out in public during non-curfew hours in crowds of more than three people will be issued a warning by the police, and repeated violation of the orders will be met with a MVR 1,000 fine.

Both private and public transport is also banned during the curfew hours.

There are ten exemptions to the curfew order. They are:

• Law enforcement and their vehicles
• Healthcare workers and their vehicles
• Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) staff in uniform and on duty, and their vehicles
• Employees of Ooredoo Maldives, Dhiraagu, banks, STELCO, and MWSC who are in uniform and on duty, and their vehicles.
• State vehicles with ‘G’ license plates
• Diplomatic vehicles
• Ambulances
• Employees of pharmacies and their vehicles
• Individuals with a pass from National Emergency Operations Center
• Vehicles with a special sticker by Health Protection Agency

Violation of the orders of the Director General of Public Health is punishable by law. Some violators have been arrested and remanded to police custody, and charges have been filed against one.