Minister of Health, Ahmed Naseem has extended the duration of the State of Public Health Emergency declared in the Maldives. This is the 17th extension of the State of Public Health Emergency since it was first declared on March 12, 2020.
The emergency state was first invoked by former Health Minister Abdulla Ameen on March 12 last year for a period of 30 days by the discretionary powers vested in the minister by Section 33 of the 7/2012 Public Health Act. The measure was taken after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the current COVID-19 outbreak as a global 'pandemic'.
Since then, the state of public health emergency has been extended several times. The Health Ministry Monday announced that the public health emergency state will be maintained as COVID-19 still remains a threat to the Maldives. Any special measures that the situation calls for will be taken accordingly.
Maldives has recorded 77,2547 confirmed cases of COVID-19 thus far, and 221 COVID-19 deaths. The COVID-19 situation in the country has improved significantly over the past few weeks.
Health Minister Ahmed Naseem
