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Maldives lifts mandatory mask rule

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has lifted the rule requiring citizens to wear masks in public.

HPA eased the COVID-19 restrictions after President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced his decision to lift the state of public health emergency in force since the start of the pandemic.

The ease of restrictions includes travellers not being required to have a negative PCR test result prior to arriving in the Maldives or for travel within the country. However, individuals residing in the Maldives are required to take an antigen test if they show signs of illness three to five days after arriving in the country.

Head of Communicable Diseases Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq said HPA still recommends individuals who show signs of illness, high-risk individuals, and those at gatherings to wear masks.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education stated students are no longer required to wear masks when attending schools but that it recommends high-risk students wear masks. The ministry stated that testing for ailments and sanitary measures will still be followed at schools.