Maldives announces two more cases of coronavirus

Two foreigners holidaying in Bathala Island Maldives have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) made the announcement late Sunday night, adding that a total of three were tested following possible symptoms.

The resort in North Ari atoll was placed on temporary restrictive measures late Saturday night, with HPA saying that an Italian tourist staying on the island had developed “Covid-19 like symptoms”.

While islands with suspected Covid-19 cases are put on temporary lockdown while awaiting test results, the restriction are lifted following negative results.

However, the measures at islands where positive cases are discovered will remain for a period “to be determined by medical experts”.

During this period, authorities will conduct contact tracing and those to have had direct contact with patients, as well as secondary patients, are to be kept in isolation and monitored for a 14-day period.

The first cases of coronavirus in Maldives was discovered in Kuredu Island Resort. Two foreign workers at the resort tested positive for Covid-19; they were tested after showing flu-like symptoms, and after an Italian tourist that recently vacationed there, informed authorities of having tested positive for Covid-19.

Kuredu Island Resort is also under lockdown.

At a press conference held on Sunday, Tourism Minister Ali Waheed assured that “there are no obstacles to providing necessities” to islands on lockdown.

Summer Island Resort and Thinadhoo island in Vaavu atoll were also put on lockdown, and had their restrictions lifted after suspected cases tested negative.

According to HPA, there were four confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country by Monday morning, while two are in quarantine and eight under isolation.