Malé, Maldives – Health Protection Agency (HPA) has placed special measures for the people traveling from India to Maldives due to the sudden rapid number of Covid-19 cases in India.
HPA announced that from April 27, 2021 onwards, all individuals traveling from India to Maldives or travelers in transit for over 24 hours in India will have to present a negative PCR test result that was done 96 hours prior to departure to enter the Maldives even if they have fully administered the Covid-19 vaccine.
In addition to this, Indian tourists and other tourists who had transited in India for over 24 hours would not be allowed to stay at local guest houses or city hotels from April 27 onward until further announcements. However, those who already have made bookings will not be restricted within this rule.
Along with this, all the Maldivians citizens and Work Visa holders traveling from India to the Maldives are required to do a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival and also undergo mandatory quarantine for ten days in their place of residency or work even if they are vaccinated. HPA stated that these people can also be released from quarantine after they present a negative PCR test result at the end of quarantine period. This does not include of children below the age of one.
The announcement from HPA and Maldives Immigration comes while the neighboring country, and the second worst Covid-19 affected country, India confirmed a total of further 349,691 cases on Sunday, bringing the total to almost 17 million since the pandemic began. Overcrowded hospitals in the country are struggling to secure enough oxygen, leading to patients being turned away.
