HPA imposes stricter travel rules to coincide with school holidays

Travel restrictions have been imposed restricting travel from the capital Male' City to islands in the Maldives during the upcoming school holidays. 

Travel is only permitted in case of necessities, during the current situation with COVID-19 in the Maldives, where the virus has been detected across multiple islands in the nation.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) last night announced new measures and instances where travel to islands from the capital Male' City would be permitted. 

They include: 

• Patients who have travelled to Male' City for medical purposes and are returning to their islands, as well as their caretakers. 
• Individuals working in the capital who have been made redundant, or have had to stop their businesses or work, and leads to difficulties in living in the capital and are now forced to move to their home islands with their family due to the situation. 
• Individuals who can no longer reside in the capital and are forced to relocate to their islands. 
• Students who travelled to the capital for education, and have now graduated, and wish to return to their islands. (Excluding students who are on term-breaks or holidays)
• Individuals who have to travel to their islands to take care of family members such as parents ill-health or a spouse in labor or in a similar situation of necessity. 

HPA said that individuals wishing to travel under these circumstances are to request permission through the "Haalubelun" portal from June 6. 

A document is required from the council of the island stating that the travel is necessary and is to be uploaded to the portal by the council of the island. 

Individuals traveling under necessity, are still required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine and are only released after testing negative from PCR tests conducted after the 14-day quarantine.