Health Emergency Operations Center HEOC Spokesperson Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq says in the fourth round of the Mass Inspection being conducted by the Health Protection Agency HPA, the agency has inspected more than 250 establishments and have closed down 5 of those.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Nazla said that HPA had inspected a total of 259 establishments so far in its fourth round of mass inspection and that 254 of those establishments were following the guidelines set by HPA.
She also said that these establishments include 206 shops, 39 cafes’, 6, and 3 markets.
Dr. Nazla said the five establishments closed down for failing to obey HPA rules include 4 cafés and 1 shop. She said that three of the cafes remained closed while the sole shop and one café had since reopened for business.
HPA had begun the 2-week mass inspection earlier this week and aims to inspect business establishments as well as government and private offices.
Earlier HPA had said if a business outlet is found in breach of the guideline for the first time, then the outlet would be closed down for 48 hours before being allowed to resume business.
The Agency said if a business fails to obey the HPA guidelines for the second time, then the outlet would face a fine of MVR 1000 and would be closed down for 72 hours before being allowed to reopen.
HPA noted that if a business is found to be operating outside of HPA rules for the third time, then the outlet would be fined MVR 1000 and would be closed for 5 days.
