Maldives is set to adopt more border control measures as an additional precaution to the wide-spreading Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) coming out of China.

During a joint press conference with the Minister of Health, Abdulla Ameen, Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed stated that the government will restrict entry into the Maldives, regardless of nationality, coming from China directly or through transit. However, Maldivians will be exempt from these restrictions.

The measures are being implemented from Monday onwards and aim to ensure public health and safety prevails. They are a temporary precautionary measure, added Waheed.

Earlier the government suspended all incoming direct flights from China alongside a travel advisory for Maldivians, warning against non-essential travel to China and other countries where the virus has surfaced.

Further, the ministers assured the public that all precautionary measures recommended through the World Health Organization (WHO) are being followed.

Some of them include seeking further equipment for screening arrivals at all entry points, establishing quarantine facilities in different islands and providing assistance to Maldivians residing abroad.

Earlier on Monday morning, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih revealed that the three being monitored under suspicion of being infected by the deadly coronavirus, have tested negative to the disease.

However, authorities continue to implement preventive measures in order to curb a possible outbreak, predicted owing to the high tourist arrivals rate from China.