Discussions are underway to allocate a separate region or island for Covid-19 patients, reveals Minister of Health, Abdulla Ameen.

Speaking during Saturday afternoon’s press briefing at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), the ministry noted that discussions are currently underway between the government and relevant authorities, to isolate individuals who test positive to the disease in a separate island or region.

Highlighting that symptomatic individuals among direct contacts of positive patients need to be closely monitored, Ameen said that authorities prioritize testing these individuals first.

Further, the minister added that the government has predicted the disease to spread swiftly since the first case of community transmission was observed.

While a number of cases have unfolded from the capital city since, it is likely that the individuals would have travelled to outlying islands before the cases started surging.

Doctors and health professionals are also working to bring changes in connection to the treatment of Covid-19, which is expected to be followed by changes to quarantine procedures.

As such, he noted that a situation may arise where individuals have to be quarantined at home.

In addition the Health Minister noted that travelling out of the Greater Malé Region in this situation, should be avoided at all costs.

There are several individuals who have been stranded in the capital city after initially having arrived for a short period of time, however, the biggest responsibility right now, is to obey the instructions given by authorities.

In this regard, the minister noted that all residents of the city are at a risk of contracting the virus, adding that everyone in the region, is included as high-risk individuals.

Shedding light on the situation of the lockdown declared across the region, Ameen stated that lifting this measure is not an option right now.