Guesthouses will most likely be reopened in September, says Health Minister Abdulla Ameen.

While the Maldives reopened its borders after nearly four months on July 15, restarting the country’s tourism industry, authorities had planned to reopen guesthouses in August.

However, during a ceremony held on Saturday night, the minister said that this will most likely be moved to September given the country’s Covid-19 situation.

He added that the decision will be reviewed, in mid-August, and that a date for reopening of guesthouses will be announced then.

While the greater Malé region was placed on lockdown following the detection of a community transmission in mid-April, authorities began lockdown easing on May 29. The borders were reopened after the country entered the third phase of lockdown easing, on July 15.

There have since been in increase in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, especially among locals. Out of the 322 confirmed cases within the last week, 224 were locals.

Noting that the government continues to impose the required precautionary measures, the health minister said that this is being done in a manner that does not cause additional hardships to businesses.