Covid-19: four individuals placed under isolation

Four individuals were placed under isolation on Thursday night, for isolation and further monitoring.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) first announced that a Maldivian who had come into "close contact" with a confirmed Covid-19 case from Kuramathi island is to be tested -this individual is now in home-isolation- while two foreigners from Six Senses Laamu were placed under home isolation and monitoring; they are to have come into contact with a positive patient prior to arrival in the country.

Furthermore, a foreigner from Anantara Dhigurah Maldives was placed under isolation after showing Covid-19 like symptoms.

HPA said that all four are being tested "as a precautionary measure".

As of Thursday, 16 people are being treated at the Vilivaru quarantine facility while nine are in the Farukolhufushi isolation facility. Two confirmed patients from Kuredu Island Resort have been moved to Dharumavantha Hospital after one required further monitoring; while the one that requires additional monitoring is a 70-year-old foreigner, the individual was transferred to the hospital in the capital with spouse.

Earlier on Thursday, the government declared a nationwide state of public health emergency earlier. Confirmed cases in the country reached eight on Wednesday. o

As precautionary measures, the government has also implemented a travel ban on those with travel history to several countries including China, Iran, some regions of South Korea, Italy and Bangladesh.