Covid-19 vaccination mandatory on public transport

Only people who have received at least the first dose of a coronavirus vaccination will be permitted to use public transport in Maldives from Wednesday.

Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has informed all public transport authorities and operators to ensure that customers meet Health Protection Agency (HPA) requirements; HPA earlier announced restrictions to be imposed on unvaccinated persons from September 1.

The restrictions are for those eligible for vaccination, but have not completed at least the first dose, and for all public transport including land, sea and domestic air travel.

HPA said that the purpose of this is being done in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19 and speed up the vaccination process.

Further, all civil servants that are unable to administer a Covid-19 vaccine for various reasons, are required to undergo Covid-19 testing fortnightly from September. Employees advised against vaccination, due to pre-existing medical conditions by a medical doctor registered in the Maldives, are also urged to become immunised as their health allows.

The restrictions were announced as the government works to have 90 percent of those eligible vaccinated before the end of August.

While Maldives is among the few countries that have been able to secure enough vaccines to immunize the entire eligible population, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stressed "this is a privilege not a lot of countries have" and urged all to go and get vaccinated soon.

The government launched the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 1. Further, work to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17 commenced on August 15, shortly after the approval of Pfizer vaccine for the age group.