Returnee from UK tested positive for Covid-19 after being identified as high-risk contact of another case

An individual that was released after 14 days in quarantine upon arrival from United Kingdom, tested positive for Covid-19 after being isolated as a high-risk contact of another confirmed patient.

Responding to a question at Thursday night’s press conference, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said that this individual had developed symptoms after being moved to an isolation facility.

Noting that this individual is a "close contact" of a previously confirmed patient, Dr. Nazla said that they do not believe that the former had contracted the virus first.

She revealed that the individual was immediately quarantined upon arrival on March 23 as per the procedures in place, and that was tested twice – on March 28 and April 6- before release on April 7. This person is to have tested positive on April 21.

Noting that the particular case was discussed with the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group (TAG), the doctor said that they do not believe that the individual had contracted the virus first.

While Maldives’ borders have been closed since March 27, those returning home are being quarantined for 14 days since March 21. Further, authorities made the decision to test all quarantined persons before release, with arrivals from the United Kingdom being tested twice after four other returnees tested positive for Covid-19 during quarantine period.