The Maldives Immigrration has announced new travel restrictions for travellers from South Asian countries.
The restrictions were announced in an order signed by Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakr released by Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Saturday afternoon.
According to the announcement, effective from 9th May 2021 the new restriction will remain in place unless stated otherwise. The precautionary actions include ban on work permit holders arriving from South Asian countries. In addition tourists from South Asian countries are restricted to travel and stay in inhabited island.
The decision comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases from countries such as India and Nepal, and follows a ban on Indian tourists from guesthouses and hotels in residential islands ordered last April.
The island nation has been experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, both in the capital and in residential islands outside the capital, prompting authorities to strengthen restrictions. Maldives has 34,134 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 766 new cases on Friday. 25,782 people have since recovered, while 83 have died from complications.
Precautionary measures related to the travelers from South Asia. pic.twitter.com/VXpCTkgTPH
— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) May 8, 2021
✳️ In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, the following restrictions are imposed on travelers arriving from south asian countries & territories. https://t.co/v5A8y8zBk6 pic.twitter.com/FFmbQQS6f7
— Health Protection Agency (@HPA_MV) May 8, 2021
