Monitoring status lifted from Manadhoo island

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has lifted the monitoring status from Manadhoo island in Shaviyani atoll, a month after the measures were put in place.

The island was placed under monitoring on May 1, following the confirmation of a Covid-19 case. The measures were removed on June 1.

A total of 10 people tested positive for Covid-19 from Manadhoo. Nine samples were initially collected from the island after an 80-year old woman from the island tested positive. She was tested after being moved to the capital. While the elderly woman is to have recovered from the virus, she passed away on May 21.

The nine remaining patients from Manadhoo island have since recovered. Over 50 samples were tested in connection to these cases, and they all came back negative.

With monitoring measures lifted from Manadhoo, only the capital is currently under monitoring. While a lockdown was imposed in Malé City on April 15 following the confirmation of a Covid-19 community spread, authorities started phase one of lockdown easing this past weekend. Travel between islands is not allowed during the first phase.

While authorities have begun allowing congregational prayers in islands with no Covid-19 restrictive measures, islands where monitoring status have been lifted will only be allowed to do so 14 days after the measures are removed.