Tourism Minister, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has stated that it is too soon to tell whether the Maldives has have overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a tweet minister Mausoom posted, he affirmed that nine people out of those who tested positive on Saturday were identified to be South Asians. This included six Bangladeshis, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one person from Nepal.

Therefore, the minister stated that it was too soon to say that we have escaped the danger of Covid-19. He advised that it was important to follow the rules and regulations set by authorities, especially when working with tourists.

After South Asian tourists were temporarily banned from entering the Maldives due to the Delta Variant being spread in the region, the borders were reopened for them on the 15th of July. This caused a lot of people to be concerned.

While the borders re-opened, Health Protection Agency (HPA) had eased restrictions following the drop in positive case numbers. This provided an opportunity for locals to once again hold meetings and throw parties in large groups. In addition, cafés and restaurants were also given permission to operate during normal hours.

In an earlier interview on RaajjeTV's 'Fala Surukhee' programme, the minister noted that the expectations are high that Maldives will overcome challenges of the new normal situation, by the time 2022 rolls around. The year is to be celebrated colorfully, as the golden year of tourism in the Maldives.