The Ministry of Education has revealed that all students below grade 6 in studying in the Greater Male' area will have classes conducted online for a period of two weeks, following an advisory by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in light of the increased number of new Covid-19 cases being reported in the capital.

In an announcement released describing the change, the Education Ministry detailed that classes would be conducted online for all students below grade 6 in the Male' area between 14 February and 25 February.

Schools reopened after months of closure under new normal guidelines on 10 January, for the second term of the 2020 academic year. However, the number of new cases of Covid-19 being reported daily have topped 100 for nearly every day since 24 January, prompting authorities to raise the alarm as the nation's healthcare system could easily become overwhelmed if transmissions are not controlled.

Spokesperson for the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed on Friday that 86 percent of all beds dedicated to the care of Covid-19 patients in the Male' area were full, and requested support from the public in reducing the spread of Covid-19 in the city. The vehicle movement restriction order in effect in the Male' area was extended on Friday to last between 6pm and 6am every day, and gatherings of more than 10 people in public spaces have been banned by the HPA.

While schools across the nation were closed last year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, schools except those in the Male' area were reopened in July. Schooling for most students in Male', especially those of the lower grades, were conducted online over the past year. Only those students above grade 9 preparing to sit their O'Level and A'Level examinations had attended classes in person over that period.