Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revised the guidelines on travelling and quarantine, mandating a 14-day quarantine period for individuals travelling from islands with active guesthouse operations.
HPA stated islands with active guesthouses will be under a higher risk as tourists from different parts of the world will visit the guesthouses. Noting individuals travelling from such islands carry a higher risk of spreading COVID-19, HPA stated a 14-day quarantine period has been made mandatory for all individuals travelling from such islands. As per the amended guidelines, all individuals travelling from islands with active guesthouse operations must follow the same procedure specified for all individuals undergoing home quarantine.
Furthermore, HPA has also included an amendment which requires individuals travelling from active resorts to islands to also undergo a 14-day quarantine. Individuals travelling from the Greater Male’ Region to any resort or island are also required to undergo quarantine.
Moreover, the amended guideline states the 14-day quarantine will also be mandatory for any individual travelling from an island in which HPA has declared a community spread situation, as well as islands which are used as industrial zones.
HPA publicised the amended guidelines following the decision of the administration to allow guesthouses in the atolls to reopen from October 15 onwards. However, hotels and guesthouses in the Greater Male’ Region will remain closed until further notice.