Maldives relaxes travel restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has eased travel restrictions for vaccinated individuals to allow them to travel without quarantine subject to the fact that 14 days have passed after receiving their second jab.

Speaking at a currently ongoing press conference, Spokesperson of the President’s Office Mohamed Mabrook Azeez stated that vaccinated individuals will be able to travel to islands that are not under monitoring with a negative PCR test subject to the fact that 14 days have passed after receiving their second jab. Such persons would not have to quarantine.

He further detailed that this easement is subject to the positivity rate maintained over the days. In this regard, if the positivity rate in Male’ area continues to stay below five percent, fully vaccinated individuals will be able to travel to inhabited islands from Male’ with a negative PCR test – without having to quarantine.

However, if the positivity rate is between five percent and 10 percent in Male’ area, those traveling to inhabited islands from Male’ must undergo a seven-day quarantine period following which a release sample must be submitted.

If the positivity rate goes beyond 10 percent, the rules will remain the same meaning they will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period following which a release sample must be submitted.

“To summarize things, fully vaccinated individuals can now travel to inhabited islands out of Male’ area that is not under monitoring with a negative PCR test. However, 14 days must have passed after receiving their second dose,” he said.

While travel restrictions have been eased to fully vaccinated individuals residing in Male' area, travel restrictions have also been eased to fully vaccinated resort employees - to be able to travel to their respective islands with a negative PCR test without having to quarantine. 

Another major easement announced today included the revokement of curfew hours in Male' area.