Due to an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases across the capital city in recent days, Maldives has tightened safety measures across the Greater Malé Region.

A publication by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Sunday reads that due to the confirmation of the more transmissible variant of Covid-19, ‘Omicron’ in the Maldives, safety precautions are to be strengthened across the capital from January 10 onwards, as stipulated under the Public Health Protection Act.

HPA revealed that the measures to be enforced from Monday onwards include disallowing gatherings, events and parties with more than 50 persons, hosting gatherings, events and parties under the guidelines set by the authority, disallowing night and city markets as well as closing off sports activities to the public.

From Monday, sports activities and tournaments will not be held in the presence of spectators.

The publication goes on to instruct all relevant institutions to implement the new guidelines and safety precautions and for the public to strictly adhere to them.

Another publication by the public health authority on Sunday reads that from Monday onwards, those traveling from the capital region will be required to present negative PCR certification valid 72 hours prior if they have passed 14 days since completing both doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

In addition, those who have not completed their vaccine shots will be required to undergo a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days and will only be released upon a negative PCR result.

HPA went on to reveal that travelers will be required to present the negative PCR result through the “CovidSafe” portal. Those who are required to quarantine will need to acquire permission from the “Haalubelun” portal.

This comes at a time the Covid-19 positivity rate across the Maldives congested capital has risen above 5 percent since New Years.

Maldives confirmed the first case of Omicron on 5 December 2021.