Covid-19 lockdown imposed in Maldives' capital has been extended for a third time.

While a 24-hour lockdown was announced in Malé City following the detection of a community transmission on April 15, it was first extended by 24 hours and later by 14 days on April 29. This extension will expire on May 14, but was extended by another 14 days on Wednesday night – until May 28.

The extension has been published in the government gazette by the Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakur under the powers granted to her with the public health emergency declared across the nation.

Under the declaration, movement on the roads including vehicles and pedestrians will be banned alongside public transport services. Further, it bans anyone from entering or leaving the Greater Malé Region, which includes Malé, Hulhumalé, Villimalé, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

It also notes that the measures could be eased, depending on how the Covid-19 situation “changes”. While authorities previously revealed that work is underway to prepare ‘new normal’ guideline, they also noted that movement restriction measures will be eased “in phases”.

A Covid-19 community transmission was confirmed after a woman with not travel history tested positive for Covid-19 on April 15. Over 900 cases have been reported in the country since. Health experts have said that the next two weeks are critical in the country’s fight against this pandemic.