HPA: Councils must ensure travelers adhere to COVID-19 guidelines

Health Protection Agency (HPA) stressed on Monday that local councils must ensure that travelers to their respective islands adhere to COVID-19 travel guidelines, as scores travel between Maldivian islands with the ease in travel restrictions ahead of the Eid al-Adha holidays.

Following a drop in COVID-19 cases nationwide, HPA eased travel restrictions to allow fully vaccinated individuals to travel to islands without being subject to mandatory quarantine if they present proof of a negative PCR test.

Amid the holiday travel rush, reports have begun surfacing of unvaccinated individuals also travelling to islands in violation of guidelines.

An official from HPA told Sun on Monday that travelers are required to inform the local council of their destination prior to departure. And that local councils must check and ensure the travelers adhere to guidelines.

Police have warned they will take action against travelers found to be in violation of COVID-19 guidelines.

Fully vaccinated travelers can travel to islands that aren’t under monitoring without being subject to mandatory quarantine if they present proof of a negative PCR test taken maximum 72 hours prior to departure. And children who are ineligible for vaccination can also travel with a negative PCR test.

However, fully vaccinated travelers with proof of a negative PCR test will still be subject to mandatory quarantine if they are travelling to an island under monitoring.