Community transmission confirmed in the north

A community transmission has been detected in Narudhoo island of Shaviyani atoll.

Authorities revealed this at the daily Covid-19 press conference on Tuesday night.

While eight people have tested positive from the island, the community spread is linked to the captain of ‘Amaaz’ boat. The 49-year-old Maldivian man tested positive for Covid-19 after taking 98 people to 13 islands in the north.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s press conference, Dr. Ibrahim Afzal said that there are nine confirmed cases in this cluster adding that this includes the eight cases from Narudhoo as well as one from Milandhoo island in the same atoll.

Further noting that 113 primary contacts have been identified thus far, the doctor said that 35 are high-risk contacts.

Noting that 11 of them are symptomatic, Dr. Afzal stated that nine of them -including the captain- have tested positive for Covid-19. This includes a pregnant woman.

‘Amaaz’ boat started the trip to the northern atolls on April 15, the same day a community transmission was confirmed in the capital city, and is to have travelled on both the 15th and 16th.

The boat took passengers to 13 islands in the north, they are;

While islands are placed under monitoring if there is a possibility of a community spread, measures placed on Velidhoo island has since been lifted.