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State publicises guideline on travelling to islands for essential tasks

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has publicised a guideline on travelling to the islands without being placed in quarantine for people who travel to other islands to provide a public service or to work on an ongoing project.

On Thursday, HPA said the purpose of developing such a guideline is to enable the provision of public services or work on ongoing projects without any interruption. It will also serve as an easy arrangement for people involved in such tasks when travelling from Male’ to other islands without being placed in quarantine.

As per the guideline, permits have to be obtained for travelling to other islands regarding such services and information has to be provided to the Island Council of the respective island. The guideline details for which services or sectors the permits will be issued.

Sectors
• Cable and media network services
• Banking services
• Water supply, power supply or utility services
• Maintenance works
• For an ongoing project work

The guideline details the responsibilities of the organisation that seeks permits, and how the employees should maintain their behaviour in the islands.

Under the new normal procedures developed in response to COVID-19, people travelling to other islands have to be placed in quarantine for 14 days. However, the restriction does not apply to people travelling from other islands to Male’ after the relaxation of lockdown measures.