Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday advised Maldivians to observe caution following stricter entry requirements by Thailand as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
- Thailand has the discretion to isolate, quarantine and monitor any and all passengers travelling into the country.
- A health certificate no older than 72 hours indicating that the passengers pose no risk of being infected by the Coronavirus disease.
- All entrants must possess an insurance policy that has minimum medical coverage of USD 100,000.
Thai nationals returning to the country must present a letter issued by the Royal Thai Embassy, Thai Consular Office or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs certifying their return.
In addition, returning Thais must present a health certificate indicating a persons fitness to fly.
Meanwhile, the government of Maldives has also imposed restrictions on a number of countries, banning entry into the island nation.
- Mainland China: Effective February 4.
- Iran: Effective February 26.
- North Gyeongsang Province and South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea: Effective March 3.
- Italy: Effective March 8.
- Bangladesh: Effective from March 10 to March 24.
- Spain: Effective March 15.
- Île-de-France and Grand Est, France: Effective March 15.
- Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg, Germany: Effective March 15.
- Malaysia: Effecetive March 17 - 1800 hrs.
- United Kingdom: Effective March 19.
- Sri Lanka: Effective March 21.
Maldives currently has 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 10 active cases. The country recorded its first two recoveries on Friday, and the third this Saturday.
No Maldivians have tested positive for the virus as of yet. So far, only tourists and resort employees have confirmed infections with no local transmissions.
The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected more than 308,200 and claimed over 13,000 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 95,800 have recovered.