1,937 individuals fined for failing to wear mask in last 19 days

Maldives Police Service has stated that they have fined 1,937 individuals for failing to wear masks within the span of last 19 days.

The President’s Office warned that action will be taken against those who fail to wear masks on January 3.

A Police Spokesperson told Sun that a total of 1,937 individuals have been fined for failing to wear masks starting from January 6.

The Spokesperson further detailed that persons violating the rules of quarantine had also been fined during this period.

Wearing masks in public spaces is mandatory in the Maldives. The Police are vested the power to fine individuals who fail to wear masks by MVR 1,000. Nevertheless, when easements were given to the COVID-19 restrictions – the number of people not wearing masks in public had significantly increased.

With Maldives currently battling a surge in COVID-19 cases, fueled by the new and more contagious omicron variant – Police have begun reinforcing HPA’s guidelines.

Daily cases in the Maldives have been above 2,000 for over a week.

In the last 24 hours, HPA announced 2,499 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed cases in Maldives to 128,950.     

According to HPA, the 2,499 new cases include; 1,280 cases from the greater Male’ region, 697 cases from residential islands outside Male’, 56 cases from operational resorts and one case from a liveaboard.

Meanwhile, 2,220 additional COVID-19 patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 110,852.    

With the new developments, Maldives now has 16,950 active cases.      

There are 54 patients in hospitals.