Summer Island Resort has been placed under temporary quarantine, as two guests and staff member are to be tested for Covid-19 following possible symptoms.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that two French nationals are to be taken to the isolation clinic set up in Farukolhufushi for tests.
In a statement released shortly after, Summer Island Resort revealed that staff member – an Indian national, 33 – is showing possible symptoms for the virus and is to be taken to the clinic as well.
While the French tourists, both in their late 20s, visited the resort doctor (Indian national) “with a temperature” on March 5, the resort is to have informed this to authorities and quarantine them in their rooms. The arrived in the country on February 25, and are to have traveled to the resort directly from Velana International Airport.
At around 10pm on Friday, the doctor is to have reported “a cough and shortness of breath”. He was also placed in quarantine in his room, while the resort informed authorities.
Summer Island Resort said that HPA officials are due to arrive there on Saturday morning, to take the three individuals to Farukolhufushi for testing.
“Three other members of Summer Island staff, who have a mild cough, are staying in their rooms in self-quarantine as a precautionary measure, as directed by HPA”Statement by Summer Island Resort
Further noting that HPA has placed the resort under quarantine as a temporary measure, the statement highlighted that people “cannot leave or enter the island without HPA authorization, while [they] await the two guests and doctor’s test results.”
Hence, guests arriving in the Maldives with reservations at Summer Island Resort are to be accommodated at other resorts until the temporary lockdown is taken off.
This is the third island to be placed under temporary lockdown. At a press conference held late Friday night, Health Minister Abdulla Ameen revealed that Kuredu Island Resort and Thinadhoo island of Vaavu atoll are on lockdown as well.
While these islands are also temporarily quarantined, three Italian nationals holidaying in Thinadhoo island were placed under isolation for tests on Friday; traveling to and from the island in closed until the results come back.
Kuredu Island Resort was locked down after an Italian tourist that vacationed there informed authorities of testing positive to Covid-19. While he is to have gone to the resort doctor while on vacation, the doctor is undergoing tests after showing possible systems. The island is closed off until his test results come back.
At Friday’s press conference, Tourism Minister Ali Waheed revealed the government’s decision to suspend flights from Italy, both direct and transit, from Sunday onwards; authorities are to provide assistance to any Italian nationals that wish to leave the country after the suspension takes effect.
Italy reported 49 deaths from Covid-19 on Friday, raising the total death toll to 197. Currently 3,296 people are infected in the country.
Maldives is yet to confirm a coronavirus case.
