Locals to be allowed to travel to islands but will have to complete 24 days in quarantine
A number of individuals have been stranded in the capital following the lockdown imposed on April 15
(File photo) Jetty area in Malé City
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has released a set of guidelines for allowing individuals to home quarantine in their respective islands.
While those that wish to travel to home islands from the locked down capital have been moved to transit quarantine facilities for a 14-day period prior to allowing them to travel, this procedure has been dropped in the new regulations.
As such, people will now be allowed to travel back directly but will be required to undergo a quarantine period of 24 days. Further, they will only be released from quarantine after testing negative for Covid-19.
The guidelines also states that government is to make all the travel arrangements, together with the respective councils, and people will only be allowed to travel after ensuring that they are not infected.
Further, while the individuals that wish to travel to the islands are to give out an address for the quarantine period, the councils are to ensure if these places are appropriate. After doing this, the councils are to inform the Local Government Authority (LGA) who will facilitate their travel.
Individuals will not be allowed to quarantine in houses with persons over 60, as well as pregnant women and individuals with underlying health conditions.
Those placed under quarantine are to live away from others in the household, and if two people or more people are sleeping in the same room then the beds must be at least three feet apart.
Those under quarantine are recommended to have separate bathrooms.
In addition, individuals under quarantine as well as others those live in such households, will not be allowed to go outside during the quarantine period and the councils and islands’ Covid-19 taskforces are to ensure this.
A number of individuals have been stranded in the capital following the lockdown imposed on April 15, after having arrived for short visits such as for medical purposes. While the city is in phase one of lockdown easing, travel between islands is still prohibited during this phase.
