Maafushi Prison has been brought under a state of emergency following the confirmation of a Covid-19 outbreak.

Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) revealed that a few inmates and officers have tested positive to the coronavirus infection, following which they reached the decision to declare a state of emergency.

Out of the samples collected so far from symptomatic persons, seven officers and four inmates have contracted the virus.

Following this, the corrections authority declared a state of emergency from 4pm, Friday in accordance with the regulations of the authority.

MCS revealed that until the state of emergency is lifted, conjugal and familial visits as well as meetings with legal teams and court hearings will be carried out online, as a safety precaution.

Earlier, the authority had transferred 17 high-risk inmates to house arrest following the confirmation of 522 positive cases from the facility, on an earlier occasion.

One of them included Former President Abdulla Yameen who was transferred to house arrest on 29 April 2021 after some officers at the Maafushi Prison complex were tested positive for Covid-19. He was among the high-risk convicts transferred to house arrest for their own safety.

The last time a state of emergency was announced in the prison facility was in September 2021.