Colombia on Wednesday announced an extension of its health state of emergency for three months, until the end of February, in a continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, media reports said. 

"The sanitary emergency will extend until February 28, 2021," President Ivan Duque was quoted as saying on his nightly television program, during which he urged viewers to avoid crowds and use safety measures to avoid a possible second outbreak. The country has had more than 1.27 million confirmed cases and nearly 36,000 deaths. 

Colombia earlier held a gradually-loosened national quarantine for nearly half a year. Now most economic activities are allowed, while face masks are required in public and large events banned.