Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has stated the quarantine system in the Maldives has been decentralised to reduce complications and difficulties.
The tourism minister made the remarks following the detection of a COVID-19 case from a guesthouse in Maafushi. The individual who tested positive has been placed under quarantine in the same guesthouse.
Speaking on the case, Tourism Minister Mausoom said the quarantine system has been decentralised so that there are no difficulties in isolating and treating individuals who test positive for COVID-19. The minister noted the government has placed measures in advance to deal with such cases, knowing fully well that positive cases will be detected upon resumption of guesthouse operations even if preventive measures are fully implemented. He called on the guesthouse sector to move forward without fear, and to continue working towards the recovery of the sector. He also called to fulfill the individual responsibility of each and every individual in making sure the country recovers from COVID-19.
Guesthouses in the atolls were officially allowed to reopen on October 15, 212 days after local guesthouses suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism ministry announced guesthouses in the atolls will be permitted to resume operations upon confirmation of the fulfilment of the health and safety standards set by Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the approval from the respective island council.
The guideline issued on resuming guesthouse operations states if a tourist or staff of a guesthouse tests positive for COVID-19, the respective guesthouse is required to allocate a location for isolation and quarantine. Guesthouses with more than 500 beds are required to allocate 15 rooms for isolation, while guesthouses with 100 to 500 beds are required to allocate 8 rooms for isolation. Meanwhile, guesthouses with less than 100 beds are required to allocate 5 rooms for isolation.
So far, 29 guesthouses have been permitted to resume operations in the Maldives.