Spokesperson of Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq has stated the quarantine mandated for individuals travelling to islands is crucial for the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the Maldives.
Speaking as a special guest on the first episode of the government’s public interaction programme “Jazeera Sallaa”, Dr. Nazla said HEOC understands and acknowledges the difficulties faced by the public due to measures imposed in the Maldives to contain the spread of COVID-19. However, the spokesperson noted the measures are needed to ensure the virus does not spread rapidly between islands and regions and to prevent the healthcare system from getting overloaded.
Dr. Nazla noted the quarantine mandated for individuals travelling to islands is crucial for preventive efforts, as it helps to identify any positive cases early and prevent the formation of a cluster. She said the quarantine requirement has been one of the main reasons why the spread of COVID-19 is still under control in the atolls.
Speaking on concerns that tourists are not required to quarantine despite locals having to quarantine when travelling to islands, Dr. Nazla said chances of the virus spreading through locals travelling to islands are much higher than that of tourists travelling to resorts, as locals would be interacting with island communities. She said the objective behind the quarantine policies is to reduce the chances of a community spread in inhabited islands.