Maldives Police Service (MPS) has begun issuing fines to individuals out on the streets without a permit during the lockdown imposed in the Greater Male' Region.
Speaking at a press conference, Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdulla Fairoosh said one person from each household will be allowed to go out for one hour every three days to get essential needs and people who breach the lockdown will face legal action instead of advising them to return to their homes. Fairoosh further said those with permits must also remain within the zones allocated for them, and those who cross over the zones will also be fined. He stated the permits can be requested via the portal set up by MPS and permits will be issued once all information has been filled in.
The assistant commissioner also expressed plans to automate the process so that individuals do not come into contact with one another, instead of the existing manual process to issue permits. Detailing on the permit processes, Fairoosh said individuals have been categorised as requests vary, noting while some go out to go to offices, others go out to buy groceries and medical supplies or to go to hospitals or carry supplies to people in hospitals. He said the requests will be evaluated to ensure whether going out is necessary.
Speaking at the press conference, Deputy Commissioner of Police Abdul Mannan Yoosuf said various measures are taken to ease the difficulties faced by the population in Male' City in buying food and fulfilling other necessities due to the lockdown. Noting these are challenging times, he urged the public not to misuse the permits.