The Council of Ministers under pressure to reduce the spread of coronavirus, said the government would maintain most other restrictions on movement including extending sanitary fences in Baucau, Covalima, Dili and Ermera to 22 September and in Manufahi to 15 September.

Sanitary fences prohibit people moving in an out of these municipalities except for “ reasons of public safety, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of public supply systems or public interest.” 

The ban does not apply to people “who can prove complete vaccination (two doses) against COVID-19, as well as children under six years of age who accompany them.”

The end of lockdown in Dili comes as Timor-Leste reported one of its first fully vaccinated deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, and daily infections continue to linger near a 16-month high, according to data from the Ministry of Health.

The unnamed man aged 49 died at the Vera Cruz hospital, authorities said.  He deteriorated rapidly after being taken to hospital.

It is not clear if the man had underlying health issues or which COVID-19 vaccine he received.

The World Health Organisation maintains that approved COVID-19 vaccines provide a high degree of protection against getting seriously ill and dying from the disease but insists that “no vaccine is 100% protective.”

The 49-year-old was one of three COVID-19 deaths reported in Timor-Leste in the past 24 hours.

The country also recorded 190 new cases on Tuesday, including 122 in Dili, 25 in Baucau, 3 in Aileu, 7 in Ainaro, 6 in Bobonaro, 2 in Covalima, 9 in Lautem, 3 in Manufahi, 8 in Oecusse and 5 in Viqueque.

Across the country, more than half of the adult population has received at least the first dose and about 28% already have full vaccination, according to official data.

In the municipality of Dili, almost 75% of the adult population has received at least one dose and almost 60% already have full vaccination.