The government of Maldives has revealed their decision to halt issuing on-arrival visas.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the reveal while speaking to the press on Wednesday evening.

As such, this will take effect from 27 March, Friday onwards.

Earlier, the government imposed temporary travel restrictions on various countries including mainland China, Iran, North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang provinces of South Korea, Italy, Spain, Il-de-France and Grand Est in France, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden- Württemberg of Germany.

As such, all passengers and crew with a travel history to these countries within the past 14 days were not to be allowed entry into the country.

In addition, the government also decided to quarantine all incoming passengers for a 14-day period, in its efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, that has been sweeping across the globe at an alarming rate.