Health Protection Agency of Maldives (HPA) has released a guideline for the re-opening guesthouses and hotels in Greater Male’ area. The guideline was published due to the ongoing preparations to open the establishments following the improvement of COVID-19 epidemic trends in Greater Male area.
Sample positivity rate in Maldives has consistently remained low at a level of less than 5 percent since mid of September 2020.
Guesthouses and hotels in Greater Male’ area are allowed to open for general operations if they fulfil the public health requirements and after obtaining approval from Ministry of Tourism (MOT).
As per the guideline, tourist guesthouses and hotels can accommodate tourists for transit and regular stay, Maldivians traveling from island for obtaining services in Greater Male’ area, expatriates holding diplomatic visa, business visa or special visa and Maldivians and expatriate work visa holders for travel related quarantine (furabandhu).
The pre-requisite for re-opening of guesthouses and hotels in Greater Male’ are as follows and will be checked by the Ministry of Tourism before the permit is given:
– Must have HPA approved designated place for isolation of confirmed cases of COVID-19 among tourists at these establishments. It could be done at a designated guesthouse/hotel or a designated facility at an island.
– Designated place for quarantine of close contacts among tourists at these establishment. It could be done at a designated guesthouse/hotel or a designated facility at an island.
– Medical care must be available at the designated place for isolation with access to a doctor and nurse. There must be a mechanism for daily monitoring of the medical condition of the isolated patients.
– There must be designated vehicles to transport COVID-19 cases and their contacts to the designated places for isolation and quarantine. PPE must be available for crew involved in the transport. There must be a mechanism to decontaminate the vehicle after movement of a COVID-19 patient or close contacts.
Moreover, tourist guesthouses and hotels are required to submit a COVID-19 safe plan to the Ministry of Tourism which adheres to the public health requirements as advised by HPA. The COVID-19 plan will be assessed by Ministry of Tourism prior to permit grant.
For more information regarding the guideline, please check: Guideline For Re-Opening Guesthouses and Hotels in Greater Male’ Area
