All of the samples collected for Covid-19 testing from Malé Prison, have tested negative for the virus.

On June 22, authorities collected samples from 101 individuals after an Emergency Support Group (ESG) officer stationed at the facility tested positive for the virus, on June 20.

The Maldives Correctional Service revealed that samples were taken from 70 officers and staff, 24 convicts and seven wait staff, to find out whether anyone else has been exposed to the virus as per the Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s protocols.

Following the positive case, contact tracing was conducted the same day.

The officer was under quarantine when tested positive and is a contact of another patient, who tested positive during random sampling.

Since then, the authority has instigated emergency protocols. This is the first Covid-19 case to have surfaced from a prison facility.

Random testing for Covid-19 was carried out across prisons including Malé Prison as well as Hulhumalé Prison, Maafushi Prison and Asseyri Prison earlier in May and the tests all came back negative for the infection.

The country has seen 2,324 infections thus far, out of which 1,911 have recovered. Maldives recovery rate is at 82.26 percent and with eight Covid-19 related deaths thus far, the mortality rate is at 0.34 percent.