The President of Colombia, Ivan Duque, said on 25 February 2021 that Colombia will extend its health state of emergency to curb the spread of COVID-19 by three months, Reuters news agency reported on Friday.

Colombia's health state of emergency was due to end on 28 February 2021, but will now continue until at least 31 May 2021, Duque said, adding, "The large majority of countries are upholding states of emergency and we will do the same."

Large public events, including concerts, will continue to be suspended, although a return to schools will go ahead, with students alternating between virtual and physical attendance.

Also, Colombia is in talks to buy additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines produced by China's Sinovac Biotech.

Duque added in his nightly television broadcast: "We have also progressed with Sinovac for the additional acquisition of vaccines in our country, which could be around 10 million more doses."

Colombia has already secured five million extra Sinovac doses and is in talks to secure up to an additional five million, Duque was quoted as saying.

Reportedly, Colombia had earlier announced agreements with a several pharmaceutical companies, including Sinovac, as well as the World Health Organisation-backed COVAX initiative, to secure 61.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, enough to inoculate about 32.5 million people.

According to the health ministry of Colombia, the country has so far reported over 2.24 million COVID-19 infections, as well as 59,396 deaths.

So far, Colombia has administered 66,000 vaccine doses to health workers and those aged over 80, as per its national vaccination plan.