Authorities in the Maldives have tightened measures against those traveling from and to India amid a record-high spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.
The Health Protection Agency HPA said in an announcement today that individuals traveling from India and arriving in the Maldives are required to produce a negative PCR test result from a sample obtained at least 96 hours prior to departure.
HPA said that these include those who have received vaccine doses against the COVID-19 pandemic It also said those travelers who have transited in India for more than 24 hours should also present a negative PCR test upon arrival in the Maldives.
The Agency also confirmed that Maldivian citizens and work visa holders are required to do a PCR test within 24hrs of arrival and undergo a mandatory quarantine of 10 days upon arrival in the Maldives.
It noted that such individuals would only be released from quarantine once they complete 10 days in isolation and only when they present a negative PCR test upon completion of their quarantine. HPA exempted children below 1 year from this rule.
HPA also said that all tourists who had arrived from and/ or are traveling to India after their stay in the Maldives are mandated to do a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test.
It highlighted that tourists from India are now banned from checking into Hotels and Guesthouses on the Islands except at those secluded and isolated from the general population of the island.
HPA said for those now checked into inland guest houses and hotels can stay for the duration of their booking.
The Agency noted that these measures would go into effect starting the 27th of this month.
These measures follow as an alarming COVID-19 situation unfolded in the world's largest democracy with Indian authorities reporting more than 300,000 new cases each day for the past four days. This is more than anywhere else in the world since the pandemic began, piling pressure on the public health system in India.
