More Safety Measures Required As A New Variant Of COVID Has Been Found In South Africa!

Health Protection Agency Maldives (HPA) has recently released an announcement banning travels to seven nations in Africa due to a new variant of COVID-19 being found. The new variant, ‘Omicron’ was found in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini.

‘Omicron’ has been identified by the World Health Organization as a highly transmissible virus of concern included in the same category of the predominant Delta variant.

HPA banned travel to these countries on Saturday and additional travel restrictions will be in effect from today onwards. Even though Maldivians & Work Permit Holders are exempt from the ban, the agency banned the entry to Maldives for those travelers who have visited the above-mentioned countries within the past 14 days, including the transitions of more than 12 hours.

For the Maldivians & Work Permit Holders who have crossed paths with the countries, 14 days quarantine is compulsory with a negative PCR test after the completion in order to be released to the community.

For the travelers who are already on their way to Maldives, will be required to take a PCR test upon arrival directly from the airport before they are allowed to enter. 14 days later the test will be repeated as a cautionary action.