The state of public health emergency, first declared across the Maldives on 12 March 2020 following the confirmation of coronavirus cases on 7 March 2020, has been extended once more.

A press release signed by the Minister for Health Ahmed Naseem and publicized on Sunday, stated that the authorities have decided to extend the state of public health emergency, first announced on 12 March 2020 as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic as per the powers vested in them under the Public Health Protection Act (No. 7/12), and under recommendations by the Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru.

The document further declared that the risk of wide-spread escalation of the pandemic in the Maldives remains, and that the ministry has advised citizens to adhere strictly to health guidelines and regulations in place to help limit the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

The health minister stressed on the importance of citizens understanding the current situation of the pandemic in Maldives, and cautioned the public to adhere strictly to the precautionary steps put in place across the nation under the Public Health Protection Act.

With this, the state of public health emergency has been extended to expire on 30 March 2022.

The last extension expired on Monday.

This is the 24th time the state of public health emergency has been extended.

This comes at a time the Covid-19 caseload has been gradually decreasing, weeks after the Maldives got immersed in another Covid-19 wave with cases surging to 2,000 on a daily basis, since the New Year celebrations were held.

The vaccination drive launched nationwide in February, in also proceeding smoothly, with health authorities recently having rolled out booster doses for immunocompromised persons and those at high risk of complications.