The Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Wednesday, announced that Maldivians and work visa holders arriving from abroad in the capital city of Male' after presenting a negative PCR test result would not be required to remain in quarantine.
In order for the leniency to be applicable, travellers must have presented a negative PCR test result 96 hours prior to departure.
The measure will come into effect on December 20.
However, individuals that are travelling to other atolls or resorts, with the exception of tourists, are still required to undergo quarantine.
The quarantine exemption also does not apply to employees of academic institutions, health care centres or state-run caregiving facilities, who will be mandated to remain in quarantine for a 10-day period following arrival in the Greater Male' Region.
HPA stated that all individuals that arrived in the central region and are currently under quarantine would be released after the measure comes into effect. These individuals will undergo PCR testing prior to release.
Additionally, the agency recommended those entering the Male' area under the new guideline to seclude themselves and wear masks even while at home for a period of 10 days.
In conjunction with the leniency for international travellers, HPA also lightened the measure which mandated PCR testing for individuals departing from the capital city of Male' to travel to atolls, provided that the travel period is brief.
Furthermore, the agency nullified the notice issued on March 31 which prohibited expatriates from making reservations at guesthouses and hotels, as well as the notice issued on April 10 which barred those on resorts and liveaboards from travelling to inhabited islands.
Individuals travelling to resorts for short periods of time to complete contracted work and locals vacationing at such establishments will also be required to present a negative PCR test result 72 hours prior to departure. If the destination is outside of the Greater Male' region, travellers must quarantine for 10 days.
The aforementioned leniencies were granted after a sustained period of fewer COVID-19 infections in Maldives, with daily cases averaging at approximately 20.
Maldives currently records a total of 13,392 virus cases of which 577 are active cases, in addition to 12,760 recoveries and 48 deaths.
On March 12, WHO classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. To date, the new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 73.8 million people and claimed over 1.6 million lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 51.8 million people have recovered.