The state of public health emergency declared across the Maldives on March 12, has been extended.

In an announcement on Thursday evening, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that the extension is until December 5.

Last extended on October 6, this is the ninth time the health emergency period has been extended. It expired on Thursday.

Upon announcement, the extension has been publicized in the government gazette and comes under the recommendation of the Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru who has recommended special measures to ensure the safety of the people and curb the spread of the infection.

Public health authorities have noted that the risk of the pandemic spreading extensively is still present and that extending the health emergency period will help authorities to strengthen measures in place.

The state of public health emergency was initially declared by the Director-General of Public Health under the powers granted to her by article 33 of the public health act, on March 12, four days after the first Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the country on March 7 and then-Health Minister, Abdulla Ameen noted that it was introduced in order to remove administrative obstacles and to swiftly impose the necessary public health measures.

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

As a response to the first case of community transmission in the greater Malé region, authorities imposed a full lockdown in the capital region on April 15.

Although the lockdown was proven to be effective in curbing the spread of the virus, the country observed a surge in cases again after the government entered the third phase of lockdown easing in July.

This was followed by an attempt to decrease the number of cases being reported, the government began implementing stricter measures and even imposed a curfew from 10pm to 5am. Cases began to drop again in the past few weeks, following which the curfew period was shortened from 11pm to 4am.