HEOC explains policy change for quarantine measures for travelers

Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has explained how measures regarding travel arrangements during COVID-19 in the Maldives were eased.

The policy was changed yesterday so that travelers from abroad are not required to quarantine if they have a negative PCR test result conducted 96 hours before their departure. 

HEOC spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq in a presser last night, explained the move. She said that there were a lot of people who had to travel abroad for various necessary reasons such as healthcare. She said that it was difficult for these individuals to quarantine upon returning to the Maldives every time. 

The decision came after the fall in the number of positive cases in Male’ City and the situation with the virus in the capital, according to Dr. Nazla.

She added that just 16 cases of the virus were identified from 1,986 people who returned from abroad between October 26 and November 28. 

The move was subject to change if the situation with the virus in the capital worsened. While travelers to the Maldives (Greater Male’ Area) from abroad are not required to quarantine, travelers to other atolls and islands in the nation are still required to quarantine. 

Dr. Nazla said that the HEOC had received a lot of complaints and questions regarding this. She explained why there was a difference in policy for the different types of travelers. 

“There is a community spread in Male’ City currently, compared to this, in other atolls, the virus is non-existent. Male’ City is still of high risk based on the lack of tourist activity. From the beginning of our work, the most important priority is to stop the spread of the virus to other islands in other atolls.” Said Dr. Nazla. 

The policy was also changed so that locals and people with work visa could travel to resorts for holidays with negative 72-hour PCR test, which was previously not permitted.