Health Protection Agency (HPA) has stated Maldivians are now required to undergo PCR testing within three to five days after returning to the country. The decision was made to strengthen COVID-19 restrictions due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
As part of the restrictions, all passengers arriving in the Maldives, except for children under one-year-old, are required to have a negative PCR test that was obtained 96 hours prior to arrival. Maldivians and work permit holders who have not completed their vaccinations are required to undergo 14 days of quarantine after arrival, except for children under 12 years of age, and will be released from quarantine after receiving a negative COVID-19 test after the quarantine period.
HPA has called on all relevant authorities to begin enforcing the new restrictions and urged all travellers to abide by the established guidelines. HPA also stated it has nullified the travel restrictions put in place for some African countries on November 27.
The highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in the Maldives, although all five confirmed cases of Omicron in the Maldives are imported cases. HPA stated further samples have been sent for gene sequencing to confirm if there is a local transmission of the Omicron variant in the Maldives.