Covid-19: gov\'t issues ban on all tourist excursions

The government of Maldives has officially banned all tourist excursions across the country as a precautionary measured against the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), spreading fast across the entire globe.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) initially announced that excursions are to be halted, on 12 March, a few hours after the state of public health emergency was declared by the Minister of Health, Abdulla Ameen under Section 33 of the Public Health Protection Act in response to the outbreak in Maldives which emerged on 7 March.

Under the authority vested by the Public Health Protection Act, the Director-General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru issued the order on Sunday.

As such, the order bans “all excursion activities from islands, resorts, safaris and guest houses” across the country.

Until further notice, these order “shall be given full effect” by all relevant authorities and the public is urged to follow instructions given by relevant stakeholders.

HPA earlier revealed that this "is a restrictive measure to strengthen the disease containment efforts to ensure the safety and security of everyone in the Greater Male' Region, in addition to those travelling to Maldives".

Further, under said measures, tourists will only be allowed to visit the destination of their booking prior to their arrival in the country, and will not be allowed to enter inhabited islands.