Tourists who haven not completed the Covid-19 vaccination will now be barred from checking into guest houses of residential islands.

According to a publicized notice by Health Protection Agency (HPA) only those who have passed the limit of 14 days after completing both doses of the vaccine can check in to local guesthouses.

HPA adds that the only circumstance under which an unvaccinated tourist can enter a residential island is dependent on the island’s vaccine coverage. As such, around 60 percent of the island’s population must be fully vaccinated. Furthermore, the tourism sector’s workforce of the island must be 95 percent vaccinated, 90 percent of those above the age of 65 must also be vaccinated.

The vaccination process will be considered complete after 14 days have passed following the second shot.

Unvaccinated individuals who enter islands with the eligible vaccine coverage must do a PCR test within seven days.

HPA notes that capital Malé city has not yet passed the vaccine coverage eligible percentage and that guesthouses in the area can only permit fully vaccinated persons.