Kuredu Island Resort on lockdown with over 1,400 people, incl. 699 guests

There are currently over 1,400 people in Kuredu Island Resort, which has been temporarily quarantined following the confirmation of coronavirus cases from the resort.

Two employees, foreigners, were tested after showing flu-like symptoms, and after an Italian tourist that recently vacationed there informed of testing positive to Covid-19.

While the two staff members tested positive for coronavirus, making them the first confirmed cases in the country, temporary restrictive measures have been placed on the island as authorities continue to monitor individuals that are to have direct contact with the patients, as well as secondary contacts.

At a press conference held on Sunday afternoon, Tourism Minister Ali Waheed revealed that there is a total of 1,427 people currently on the island; 699 guests and 728 staff members.

The 699 guests include four Maldivians, and the remaining are from;

Out of the 728 staff members currently on Kuredu Island Resort, 271 are Maldivians while 457 are foreign workers including in construction.

Also at the press conference, Minister Waheed assured those quarantined at the resort that “there are no obstacles to providing necessities to the island” despite the travel restrictions.

Further noting that they are currently conducting a screening process, Waheed said that some of them are in self-isolation as instructed by medical experts.

The minister also assured that the Maldives will not discriminate anyone in providing the required care, stressing that the safety of the expatriate workers is of high priority as well.