The Government of Maldives has decided to ban entry for cruise ships due to reports of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in more countries.
Speaking at a press conference, Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen discussed the reasons for the decision and stated entry permits will be resumed once the status of the outbreak changes positively.
The decision to ban entry comes at a time cruise ship arrivals to Maldives have increased. According to statistics from Maldives Immigration, 15 cruise ships docked in Maldives last month and 19 cruise ships arrived in Maldives in December 2019.
Last week, Health Protection Authority (HPA) screened 4,594 people on board 3 cruise ships. Thermal cameras have been installed in all entry points and people arriving in Maldives are currently being screened for any symptoms. Furthermore, entry has also been banned for people coming from two areas in South Korea and Iran.
The administration has been taking measures to mitigate the outbreak of COVID-19 in Maldives.