The government has announced the official working hours for state institutions and government offices during the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan.

On Sunday, the President’s Office revealed via its fourth directive of the year, that working hours for government institutions and offices have been set from 9am to 1pm during the fasting month.

The same working hours will be effective during the first seven days of Shawwal, the Islamic month that follows right after Ramadan, which will begin early April.

The President’s Office has urged government offices and institutions to strictly adhere to the official working hours when planning events as well.

Ramadan 1443 is approaching at a time Maldives recently underwent an overwhelming peak of the Covid-19 pandemic following the celebrations to ring in the New Year.

However, recent days have seen the caseload declining especially in the capital region.

The fasting month last year saw the country driving through a Covid-19 peak as well.  During the fasting month 2020, the populous capital Malé City was in a state of lockdown following the discovery of a community transmission of the virus, on 15 April 2020.

Due to the declining caseload, authorities have even eased a number of restrictions, especially across the capital.