A decision has been made to extend the validity of the negative PCR test that is required to be done 72 hours before the flight, to 96 hours.

Maldives Immigration, yesterday, said that the decision has been reviewed and an extra day has been given for testing and those with a negative PCR test that is no less than 96 hours old can travel to the Maldives.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has eased some restrictions with the extended validity on the PCR test including the entry without a quarantine for those who have received the full doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Children under the vaccination age who travel with such individuals are not required to quarantine either. However, they are required to do a PCR test with five to seven days after entry.

Previously, locals and work permit holders arriving in the country that had received the full vaccination in less than two weeks from their travel date were required to do a seven-day quarantine.

And those who had not received the full vaccination, be it locals or work permit holders, are required to complete a 14-day quarantine.