A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
The Maldives achieved the Safe Travels Stamp, which is endorsed by the World Tourism Organization and more than 200 travel companies. The objective of the Safe Travel Stamp is to provide confidence to travellers and re-establish consumer confidence in Travel and Tourism and ensure travellers of enhanced standards of hygiene are in place and the […]
The ID NOW™ COVID-19 rapid test by Abbott delivers high-quality molecular positive results in as little as 5 minutes, targeting the coronavirus (COVID-19) RdRp Gene. Medtech Maldives reveals the company will be bringing the product to the Maldives. Timely results enable healthcare professionals to make appropriate and more efficient treatment and infection control decisions. EUA […]
Bank of Maldives has revealed that the bank has issued loans worth MVR 1.2 billion to various sectors of the economy during the financial downturn in the pandemic. CEO and Managing Director of BML, Tim Sawyer stated that assistance is being provided on the recovery scheme fund for resorts and guesthouses under the recovery plan […]
COVID-19 cases have decreased to a great extent with daily cases below 100 in the past week compared to the earlier weeks with daily cases around 200. The cases have gradually increased after lockdown with ease on restrictions where the numbers peaked above 1,000 in one week. The number has now decreased where the daily […]
Maldives estimates a drop in COVID-19 case numbers in Greater Male’ Area by the end of September. As per Dr Sheena Moosa, consultant epidemiologist at Health Protection Agency, due to the easement of lockdowns, the virus has spread rapidly in the capital and that the case numbers could possibly be reduced by the end of […]
Christian Drosten, a top virologist in Germany, believes that the standard two-week coronavirus quarantine period is far too long. He says that research reveals people are no longer infectious after five days, so that should be the limit of the quarantine period. According to Drosten, the five-day quarantine period he is recommending should not be […]
Recently, there has been news stating that Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) will not be extending the deferral period for loans obtained by customers after introducing an initial six-month deferral period. However, it has been revealed that no confirmed decisions have been made on this. The initial loan deferral period was until the end of […]
Maldives will permit reopening of guesthouses from 15 October 2020, Ministry of Tourism confirmed. In a tweet, the Ministry revealed that the issuing of the permit will be based on consent from Island Council and criteria and guidelines by HPA and HEOC. Ministry is said to hold a press conference on 2nd September 2020 to provide […]
The MDV economy is highly dollarized. The Financial sector small and dominated by banks with an estimated total asset base of MVR 56 billion. Last three years our usable reserve averaged USD 235 Million. Along with huge current account deficits and subsequent budget deficits over the years, one has to recognize that there are limited […]