Gov't offices to officially reopen on Sunday

Government institutions will officially reopen on Sunday, after remaining closed four three months due to the worsening Covid-19 situation.

While the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) on Thursday announced that offices will be allowed to resume normal operations from August 6, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih publicized guidelines to reopen government institutions the same day.

Government offices have been closed since May 5 as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus. The new directive issued on Thursday permits employees to return to working at their office premises from 8 August.

The directive states that all employees should abide by the guidelines publicised in the 19th directive released by the President's Office, as they return to working at their respective agencies' premises.

Government offices are to ensure that staff complete all work within working hours to avoid staying at work after their shift ends and urges that all offices close latest by 4pm. Offices must remain open after hours only if absolutely necessary.

Furthermore, in order to reduce physical interactions, any services that can be performed online, must be implemented that way.

In addition, due to the economic situation caused by the pandemic, all institutions are advised to make necessary expense reductions – this includes reducing printing costs, digitalizing work to possible extents and reducing the strain on the national budget.

The directive further instructs offices to impose hygiene practices and ensure that social distancing is practiced according to the measures outlines in the relevant Civil Service Commission Circular which was developed after consultation with HPA.

President Solih on Tuesday instructed all government employees, including government agencies and subsidiaries, to inoculate against Covid-19 by completing both vaccine doses, stressing that immunisation is "the best safeguard" against the virus for the whole community.

All government employees who had not received any doses of the vaccine are required to complete the first dose by 15 August, and the second dose after the requisite duration.