There is huge infighting among the agencies involved. The Health Protection Agency does not have control over the air transport side of things. Neither does the CAA nor immigration. It is controlled by the President's Office. They would not listen to IATA or even ICAO. The whole thing is a mess and the professionals are fed up. After a lot of pressure from the CAA they did extend the PCR test period to 96 hours. There should not be any arrival issues but the departure is a mess with things like that.

You will be tested between the 3rd and 5th day after your arrival too.

Yes if you feel it is better then I would say staying in a guest house in Male or Hulumale could be the solution for the final few days. There is no way they can stop you from moving out before your test anyway as you would have paid already. It is 14 days quarantine for now. Bear in mind that you do need a PCR test to get out of Maldives too and an anti gen is not enough.

Paying for Quarantine
 

Hi,

How is everyone planning on paying for a 14 day quarantine (sometimes in separate villas if only 1 of 2 tests positive)?

The costs can become quite enormous. I am looking at around $25,000 additional. Does anyone have insurance that can help cover this? Are people paying out of pocket?

Thanks!

I did check out with Atmosphere Hotel and Resorts group in The Maldives and they said that they do not charge the same rates if someone tested positive after staying there. But it would be prudent to get that in writing. Some resorts do charge the same rates however.

I'd be very surprised if anyone is "planning" for quarantine.
Went to Maldives twice during pandemic, and I went into it with fingers crossed both times.
Many hotels are rather tight lipped about pricing for quarantine anyways, making "planning" a rather futile proposition.
For the most part, insurance companies aren't willing to take such a risk, so good luck if you're gonna try to find one.

New requirements. The 14 day has been cut for 10 days but if you test negative after the 5th day again then you are free. This is only for fully vaccinated people.

I saw the drop from 14 to 10 days but can you show me a link for the drop all the way down to 5 if you are fully vaccinated? That would be great news and I wouldn't be worried at all anymore about going and the slim chance of quarantine if it was only for 5 days. Based on a neg test that is.

This article makes it seem like the person who tests positive is still on the hook for 10 days but close contacts are the ones who are down to 5 days.
https://edition.mv/news/23709

I saw the Press Conference of the Health Protection Agency yesterday. Let me try and see if I can find something in writing.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has reviewed the quarantine period for vaccinated individuals.

In a press conference held by the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), the center's Spokesperson Dr. Fathmath Nazla Rafeeq said the quarantine period for positive cases and direct contacts had been reviewed.

In this regard, vaccinated individuals who test positive will need to be in quarantine for ten days from the date of sample collection if no symptoms of illness are exhibited.

As for fully vaccinated individuals who are direct contacts, they can either undergo a ten-day quarantine and end quarantine without testing after the period ends if no symptoms are exhibited, or complete a five-day quarantine and undergo a test. They can end quarantine when a negative PCR test result is received.

However, those in quarantine with a person who has tested positive will need to stay in quarantine for the duration of the positive patient's isolation. Unvaccinated individuals who test positive must remain in quarantine for 14 days and obtain a negative PCR result at the end of the quarantine period.

A lot of confusion with the Press Conference and the information on the website. Let me double check about the 5 days issue. It may have been 5 days for the contacts and not the person.

Just about to go on the holiday of a lifetime to the Maldives, boy is this stressful!

I have a question on the Traveller Health Declaration form. We've filled ours in 48 hours prior to departure, as the website states.

When the forms generated, they generated with an expiry time that is before our flight lands. So 48 hours prior to departure is clearly wrong. I decided to submit these to BA regardless (stupidly) but am now thinking that probably the worst thing that could happen is arriving in MLE with two expired forms. I assume I'm better off waiting until as late as possible, and then getting two more forms and then reupload to BA?

Thanks
Jack

We're headed to the Maldives on Friday and I agree, lining up tests and tracking down the forms is stressful.

Not to nit pick but the website for the declaration clearly states "All arriving and departing passengers via airports and seaports are required to complete the Traveler Health Declaration form within 48 hours, prior to the departure." (emphasis added). I read "within" as meaning during that 48 hour window prior to departure and not 48 hours prior to departure. I.e. you can complete and submit 1 hour prior to departure. Hope that helps with your timing.

Yes quite possibly. I hope I haven't got the '96 hours prior to scheduled time of departure' piece wrong on the PCR test as we're about 93 hours! Got ours Monday evening, also flying on Friday.

You are right. They mean within the 48 hour window and not before 48 hours. It used to be 24 hours and they have extended it as it was causing problems for some passengers in transit to MLE as some airlines would not board them.

It is 96 hours before your first flight and if you are taking any transfer flights, then so long as you do not have a break more than 24 hours it would be alright.

I applied for two new forms this morning with plenty of time on them post arrival so should be all good. BA also accepted the uploads fairly promptly, so we look all set go go!