Reopening date for govt. offices pushed back

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has moved back the date for the opening of government offices in the country after the COVID-19 lockdown. 

The President announced via Twitter today, that government offices, cafés, restaurants, and businesses will be permitted to fully reopen starting from tomorrow. However, a later announcement by the President’s Office read that the date for government offices was moved back by a day to July 2. 

Government offices will be open from 9:00 to 13:00 during this period.  

Government offices have been closed since March 19, shortly after Maldives identified its first COVID-19 case on March 7, and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic four days later on March 11. 

The President later granted to relevant government ministers and heads of government offices to open ministries and offices outside of the allocated time if there is a pressing need to conduct essential work. 

Relevant government ministers and heads of government offices were instructed to declare the work which will be conducted by the offices during the period and to share details of the work to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Ministries and offices were required to conduct its work in accordance with the agency’s instructions, policies, and guidelines.