Maldives imposes travel restrictions for three countries affected by Ebola

The government has imposed travel restrictions to and from the three countries most affected by Ebola.

This was announced at a press conference at the Ministry of Health today, by Acting Minister of Health Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim, who said that Maldivians are also advised against travel to these three countries.

He said that screening and inspection will be stepped-up at the airport tomorrow, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a statement regarding the travel restrictions.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement dated 12 October 2014, that the government has decided not to issue on-arrival visas to travellers arriving from countries heavily affected by Ebola virus disease as part of the ongoing preparedness and precautions against this disease.

The ministry said that the countries listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as those heavily affected by Ebola Virus Disease are Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, in West Africa.

The ministry further said that third country nationals arriving in Maldives who have visited either Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea, will not be issued on-arrival visa till after 21 days have elapsed since their travel to any of these countries.

Nazim assured that Maldives is taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread Ebola in the country. He said that people have been trained, and the necessary resources have been acquired to fight this epidemic.