Coronavirus: all three individuals being monitored "no longer have symptoms"
While all three are Maldivians, they are under isolation for monitoring purposes in Funadhoo island where an emergency zone has been established
Health Minister Abdulla Ameen
While authorities had revealed that three people were being monitored on suspicion of coronavirus infection, the health minister had said that “they no longer have any such symptoms.”
Abdulla Ameen made the announcement at a press conference held on Saturday night, adding that they are in good health.
While all three are Maldivians, they are under isolation for monitoring purposes in Funadhoo island where an emergency zone has been established.
The first suspected case was revealed at an emergency press conference held late Thursday night. As such, the minister said that a 20-year-old Maldivian that returned from China on Wednesday had been put under isolation due to flu-like symptoms. The remaining cases were announced the next night.
Despite the three individuals no longer having any symptoms, they will remain under isolation until the tests results are in; while these tests cannot be done in the Maldives, blood samples are to be sent to Pune, India.
Minister Ameen said that they expect the results “on Sunday.”
He also revealed work being done by the government to curb an outbreak in the country, specifically the special task force established by the president, which includes sending officials and doctors across the country to hold awareness sessions.
Also at the press conference, Dr. Ibrahim Faisal appealed to parents to refrain from sending students with flu “as a personal responsibility.”
However, the doctor said that there is no urgency to close schools yet.
The Novel Coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China in December 2019, and there has been public concern over the possible outbreak in the Maldives due to tourist arrivals from the southeastern nation. Over 260,000 tourists arrived from China in 2019.
The government has since halted direct flights from China, and have made the arrangements for Maldivians in the southeastern nation to return home.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern, on Thursday.
The confirmed cases of the virus has reached over 14,514, with the death toll at 304 in China. The first death outside of China was reported early Sunday morning, in Philippines.
