Covid-19: unclear on how the virus reached Himmafushi drug rehabilitation centre

Three individuals seeking treatment at the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Himmafushi island of Kaafu atoll have tested positive for Covid-19.

The National Drug Agency’s legal officer, Ahmed Hilmy confirmed this on RaajjeTV’s Covid-19 coverage on Friday night, and added that they are not certain on how the virus reached the facility.

Noting that drug rehabilitation programmes are being held at the facility in Himmafushi and a temporary detoxing centre in the capital following the lockdown announced in the greater Malé region, Hilmy said that random samples were taken for testing from both areas on the request of the drug agency.

He said that the samples taken from the temporary centre had come negative but that three out of the 10 samples taken from the Himmafushi centre was positive for the virus.

He said that those at the Himmafushi facility have been there prior to the lockdown, and that no one has entered or left the facility since April 13.

Highlighting that this includes the centre’s staff, Hilmy said that they do not know how the three contracted the virus. He added that none of them had shown symptoms.

A total of 110 people are seeking treatment at the Himmafushi rehabilitation centre; 103 men and seven women.

Hilmy also said that they have been preparing for the worst-case scenario even prior to the confirmation of a Covid-19 case in the country, including establishing an isolation area. Hence, he said that the three patients that tested positive have since been moved to this area.

However, Hilmy noted that the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is working to transfer them to an isolation facility.