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Majority of service providers in violation of COVID-19 guidelines: HPA

Ahmed Aiham
13 July 2020, MVT 12:00
Following assessments by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), authorities paste stickers indicating a service providers compliance to COVID-19 safety protocols. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI / MIHAARU v
Ahmed Aiham
13 July 2020, MVT 12:00

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Sunday night revealed that the majority of businesses and other establishments were operating in violation of the restrictive measures enacted over the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

Ann official of the assessment team stated that various violations were noted from a number of establishments in their operation.

After recording low numbers for several weeks, the recent spike of virus cases has reduced the total amount of recovered patients from 86 to 83 percent.

The number of COVID-19 cases increased after the state initiated efforts to steer the country towards a 'new normal' with the phased easing of lockdown restrictions across the Greater Male' Region. Government offices and businesses including shops, cafe's and restaurants restarted services on July 1 while authorities are prepared to reopen Maldives' borders for tourism on July 15.

The government began the inspection of establishments through a joint effort by HPA, Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), Male' City Council, the Ministry of Economic Development, Maldives Police Service, Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC), Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO).

During the inspection, authorities ascertain whether service providers hold required government permits, implement proper social distancing measures and observe other safety protocols.

HPA also noted that similar inspections would soon be carried out in islands located within the atolls.

Authorities assured that punitive action will be taken against businesses that violate safety protocols.

The inspection teams will assess service providers in two phases throughout the day - from 0900 hrs till 1200 hrs and from 1400 hrs till 1800 hrs.

Maldives presently has a total of 2,731 confirmed and 419 active cases of COVID-19. Thus far, the country records 2,284 recoveries and 13 deaths.

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.

On March 12, WHO classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. To date, the new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 13 million people and claimed over 571,6600 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 7.5 million people have recovered.

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