Indications of slashing local quarantine period to 10 days

The government has indicated that it may be willing to cut short the mandatory quarantine period for COVID-19 on locals traveling domestically from 14 days to 10 days.  

The measure is a step taken to effectively control the spread of the virus. Health Protection Agency (HPA) is yet to make an official comment on the matter. 

However, the President of the Guesthouse Association of Maldives tweeted today thanking President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom for reducing the quarantine period. He described the move as extremely advantageous to the guesthouse industry.

The world is very confident of the relative safety of #SafeTourism model of #Maldives. We hope to maintain our safety standards with absolute minimum inconvenience to tourists.@visitmaldives #VisitMaldivesNow #TogetherWeCan https://t.co/MtPZ7wWLmx

— Abdulla Mausoom (@Mausoom_Maus) December 1, 2020

Minister Mausoom then retweeted the original tweet saying that the government would ensure that the Maldives was a safe destination for tourists and that it would also work to reduce any difficulties or challenges faced by tourists. 

Currently, a 96-hour negative PCR test is required for entry into the Maldives by tourists. However, locals are still required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period upon international and domestic travel.

Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has previously said that 14 days was the right amount for quarantine to ensure that the virus did not spread.