The State of Public Health Emergency declared across the Maldives on 12 March, has been extended.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Health on Friday through a statement.

As such, the State of Public Health Emergency has been extended until 30 April as the Maldives is still at risk of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) spreading among the communities.

Upon recommendations from the Director-General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru to implement special measures to curb the spread of the disease, the ministry reached the decision to extend the State of Public Health Emergency until the end of the ongoing month.

According to Minister Ameen, the emergency was declared in March in order to remove administrative obstacles and to swiftly impose the necessary public health measures.

The State of Public Health Emergency was declared by the Director-General of Public Health under the powers granted to her by article 33 of the public health act. The emergency was imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the Maldives.

This is the first time in Maldivian history that such a declaration has been imposed.

As of Friday, there have been a total of 19 confirmed cases in the Maldives since the first two cases emerged from Kuredu Island Resort on 7 March. Out of the 19, 15 are foreign cases and four are local cases. The country has seen 13 recoveries thus far.