Health Protection Agency (HPA) has changed regulations to allow Maldivians to go to resorts on holiday with a negative PCR test.

The new regulation change requires local tourists traveling to resorts to have a negative PCR test that is less than 72 hours old and have to arrange accommodation and food separate from the staff.

HPA said that local tourists and short visit workers going to resorts outside the Male’ Area (Male’, Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’) would have to quarantine for ten days under the regulations.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, local tourism have been banned in the resorts as a safety measure.

The latest ease of COVID-19 restrictions have also lifted the requirement of a PCR test to travel from the capital to the atolls. HPA said that they will be taking action against those who violate the regulations among those who travel to the islands on short visits and other needs.