Maldives scraps PCR testing for inbound travelers, mask mandate

Maldives has eased restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including allowing all inbound travelers, regardless of vaccination status, to enter the country without requiring proof of a negative PCR test. 

The changes were announced by Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeg during a press conference on Sunday evening. 

Nazla said that travelers will not be subject to mandatory PCR testing, even if they aren’t vaccinated. 

“No one will be required to undergo PCR tests for travel,” she said. 

Nazla said that while PCR tests are no longer mandatory, Health Protection Agency (HPA) continues to recommend getting tested, for the safety of the travelers themselves and others. 

Maldives has also scrapped mandatory quarantine for inbound travelers.  

“At present, inbound travelers and domestic travelers who haven’t completed their vaccination are subject to quarantine under certain circumstances. Such quarantines have been revoked,” she said. 

Meanwhile, masks are no longer mandatory. 

“Masks were mandatory in all regions of Maldives before. But we have revoked the mandate,” she said. 

Nazla said that masks will continue to be mandatory in health facilities and in islands and areas where the positivity rate is higher than 20 percent. 

Though not mandatory, masks are recommended for people who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, when in crowded places, when attending indoor events, on buses, ferries and taxis, and for high-risk individuals and people who live with high-risk individuals when in public locations. 

The decision to lift the state of public health emergency was announced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during an address to the nation on Sunday evening.