HPA bans smoking at cafe's, restaurants during 'new normal'

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Sunday, revealed that tobacco consumption would be prohibited at cafe's and restaurants in the capital city of Male' after they are permitted to reopen on July 1.

Cafe's and restaurants to open in July

The prohibition, which extends to smoking cigarettes, shisha, vape and e-cigarettes, is included under guidelines publicized by HPA following two months of strict lockdown.

Under the government's decision to ease lockdown measures, cafe's and restaurants in the capital city of Male' will be allowed to reopen in July.

The regulations also mandate restaurants and cafe's to follow the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Five Keys to Safer Food as well as providing access to handwashing facilities and soap.

Safety and cleanliness instructions for customers and staff must be displayed on the premises.

HPA urged establishments to ensure that employees maintain a three-feet distance while working and distribute duties in a manner that reduces contact between workers.

Outlets offering delivery services were recommended to make arrangements to prevent or limit contact between employees that prepare orders and those that conduct deliveries.

As per HPA instructions, staff must be checked for COVID-19 symptoms on a daily basis.

Furthermore, cafe's or restaurants with buffet services must station an employee to load plates instead of permitting customers to serve themselves.

In addition to establishments that serve food and beverages, HPA also released guidelines for markets and retail outlets selling food products.

Retail outlets are required to regularly disinfect surfaces or objects that are frequently touched, and display marks for appropriate queueing distances.

Food products produced at homes on a small scale to be sold at shops must be packaged and labelled according to national standards. If this is not possible, HPA ordered shops to station an employee to serve customers.

Similarly, products at bakeries displayed on unsealed shelves must be packaged with cling film or food wrap.

HPA also mandated access to handwashing facilities in markets, with stalls required to maintain three-foot distances and provide disinfectant.

Following the lockdown first declared on April 15, authorities commenced the phased easing of restrictions on May 28, with the second phase beginning on June 15. This allows movement without a permit for essential needs, businesses and delivery services, as well as other necessities within limitations as stated by the HPA.

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Maldives' capital Malé recorded a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in the first weeks following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15.

However, the number of recoveries have continued to rise, with roughly 81 percent of patients now recovered.

Maldives presently records a total of 2,203 confirmed cases, out of which 387 are active cases of COVID-19. The country records 1,803 recoveries and eight fatalities so far.

WHO has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 9 million people and claimed over 471,300 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, 4.8 million people have recovered.