Despite the decision to ease the Covid-19 lockdown, Maldives has extended its state public health emergency.
The Ministry of Health announced that the public health emergency has been extended until June 29.
Noting that the country is still at risk of a Covid-19 spread, the ministry said that the decision to extend the public health emergency was reached upon the recommendations of the director general of public health, to pave way for the required precautionary measures in order to ensure the safety of the people.
This is the third extension of the state of public health emergency.
Health Minister Abdulla Ameen declared a 30-day nationwide state of health emergency on March 12, as advised by the Director General Maimoona Aboobakuru as per section 33 of the Public Health Act.
If there is sufficient proof for the Director General to believe there is a situation which may be harmful to health in a specific place on a specific day and actions need to be taken to ensure the emergency is resolved, managed and risks minimized, the Director General can advise the Minister to declare a state of public health emergency and specify the area in which the state of emergency will be enforced.Section 33, Public Health Act
The declaration of the public health emergency allows the director general of public health to take the necessary precautionary measures for the safety of the people.
