Addu Equatorial Hospital has revealed that several contacts of the coronavirus-stricken patient in the city, have been identified through contact tracing.

The hospital manager made the reveal during an online press briefing held by the Addu City Council on Saturday afternoon, to announce the lockdown declared across the city on Saturday.

As such, the manager revealed that several individuals had visited the Covid-19 patient at the hospital, “illegally”.

Highlighting that the hospital had worked to limit the number of public visitations, the manager stressed that a number of individuals had illegally entered the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as well.

As authorities are working to identify the number of contacts through contact tracing, sources have reported that a number of individuals had seen the patient off at the airport. The Covid-19 patient was transferred to the capital Malé City for treatment of heart conditions, and upon testing, turned positive for Covid-19.

Authorities have thus far identified 26 contacts of the patient including 10 nurses and seven doctors.

Following the discovery of the first Covid-19 case in the city, Addu has been locked down for a period of 14 days, starting Saturday and resident are prohibited from going out.