After a significant drop in fresh infections of the COVID-19 in recent weeks, authorities in the Maldives have lifted night-curfew in capital Male in order to ease restrictions, Rajje tv reported. The new restriction guidelines will come into effect from Sunday. 

The government imposed a lockdown, among other restrictions, in the capital in March when it detected the first case of community spread in the city. Travel between different islands was also banned during these periods. Authorities started easing restrictions in April to boost economic activities. 

In August, the government imposed a seven hours night curfew after a surge of the COVID-19 infection in the city. Upon a gradual decrease in cases, the government on Saturday announced easing night curfew. 

In a week’s time, the country has reported just 118 cases of the COVID-19 infection. A day earlier, the Health Emergency Response Centre also waved some quarantine restrictions on citizens coming to Maldives’ capital from abroad.  

Since March, the Indian Ocean archipelago has reported a total of 13,444 COVID-19 cases but active cases remain 553. In December, the country reported an average of fewer than 40 cases daily.