The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has lifted the 12-hour restriction on vehicle movement across the Maldives capital.

The public health authority made the reveal via an announcement, highlighting that the vehicle movement restriction which was implemented from 6pm – 6am from February 12 onwards in order to curb the spread of Covid-19, has been lifted.

The new directive dissolving the previous directive imposing the vehicle movement ban, signed by the Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru, was publicized in the early hours of Thursday.

Further, the public health authority has also opened parks across the capital city, to the public. Public parks in the capital region were closed down on March 4.

The curfew from 11pm to 4:30am remains in place despite the ease on vehicle restrictions.

Public health authorities recently extended and implemented stricter measures across the nation in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the region, as the country goes through an overwhelming third peak of the pandemic. For months, infections have been snowballing and HPA has been raising concern over the mounting caseload, however, the authorities remain resolute to avoid imposing a second lockdown across the capital region.

Authorities reintroduced a curfew in the Greater Malé Region on February 12, in light of the spike in daily infections being reported. Further, authorities also restricted hours for food outlets such as cafés and restaurants to provide dine-in services. Although dine-in was prohibited at food outlets after 8pm, deliveries were being allowed until 10:30pm. Authorities recently allowed food outlets to remain open for dine-in services until 10:30pm as well.

Currently, public gatherings of more than five individuals have also been banned. Cinemas and movie theaters across the capital region remain closed as well. Other measures implemented and extended over the past few weeks include the suspension of physical classes at universities, a prohibition on groups exercise and sports activities as well as the closing down of running tracks.

The country remains in a state of public health emergency since 12 March 2020, the last extension is set to expire on April 4.