Teachers, students on vacation urged to hurry back home

Education Ministry has issued a statement urging teachers and students spending their holidays out of their island to hurry back home in time for the beginning of the second school term. 

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has tightened travel restrictions, after the COVID-19 sample positivity rate rose above 5 percent in the greater Male’ region. Fully vaccinated travelers are now required to produce proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken maximum 72 hours prior to departure when travelling from Male’ to other islands, while unvaccinated travelers from Male’ to other islands are required to undergo 14 days of quarantine and PCR testing. 

In a statement on Monday afternoon, Education Ministry said that uninterrupted education at schools was its top priority. 

The Education Ministry urged teachers and students to return to their islands as soon as possible, before the second school term begins. 

“It is Education Ministry’s sincere request that teachers and students currently on vacation out of their island comply with Health Protection Agency’s travel guidelines and return to their islands as soon as possible,” said the Education Ministry. 

The decision to make PCR testing mandatory for travel out of Male’ has resulted in long queues outside testing centers. HPA has offered a small two-day respite, allowing travelers the option of either taking a sample and travelling and staying in quarantine until they receive their test results, or travelling to their island and staying in quarantine until the test is done and results available.