Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has urged individuals travelling to islands from Male’ not to make travel arrangements before receiving permission from Health Protection Agency (HPA).
Speaking at a press conference, Spokesperson of HEOC Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq noted individuals travelling to islands from Male’ to undergo home quarantine are required to acquire permits from HPA as well as the respective island councils. Dr. Nazla said some individuals have been making travel arrangements without acquiring HPA approval, noting the approval from island councils will not be sufficient to travel. She urged all individuals travelling to islands to complete all formalities in acquiring permission to travel, before making travel arrangements such as purchasing tickets.
Speaking further, the spokesperson noted HPA checks whether the traveller had tested positive for COVID-19 or came into contact with a positive case, before issuing permission to travel. She also noted all travellers are required to register at the Haalu Belun Portal, to allow HPA to monitor their conditions while they undergo home quarantine.
All individuals travelling to islands from Male’ are required to undergo home quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the island. They will be released from quarantine after returning a negative result from the exit test for COVID-19.
HEOC stated there are currently 48 individuals in 22 islands across the atolls who have tested positive for COVID-19. Most of the positive cases from the atolls are individuals who had been undergoing home quarantine after travelling from Male’.