33 more businesses closed for COVID-19 safety guideline violations

Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced on Monday that it has ordered the temporary closure of 33 more business establishments in the capital for violation of the safety guidelines issued by the agency in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

HPA initiated a mass inspection of cafés and restaurants, shops, gyms and fitness centers, salons and markets in the greater Male’ region last week, a follow-up to a mass inspection conducted earlier in July.

The agency inspected 174 establishments on Monday, following which it closed down 33 business establishments for violation of safety guidelines. They include 10 cafes and restaurants, 17 shops, five salons and barber shops, and one market.

HPA has now inspected total 684 business establishments and closed down 175 business establishment found in violation of safety guidelines. They include 72 cafes and restaurants, 75 shops, 24 salons and barber shops, three markets, and one spa.

The follow-up mass inspection comes amid a surge in coronavirus cases with the relaxation of the lockdown in July. An increasing number of new coronavirus cases are unlinked to existing clusters, which health authorities warn indicates a wide community spread.

Mask when out in public in the greater Male’ region – the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Maldives – is now mandatory.

Maldives now has 4,293 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 129 new cases recorded on Monday. 2,670 patients have since recovered, while 18 have died from complications.

127 of the cases on Monday were identified from the greater Male’ region, while the remaining two were identified from the atolls.

2,178 people – making for 50 percent of total coronavirus cases in the country, are Maldivians. The rest include 1,688 Bangladeshis, 302 Indians, 48 Nepalese, and 41 Sri Lankans, 11 Italians, seven Indonesians and five Filipinos.

The country now has 1,490 active cases. 92 of the coronavirus patients are hospitalized.