Covid-19: Addu City Hithadhoo placed under lockdown, schools closed

Southernmost Addu City’s Hithadhoo district has been placed under lockdown, with monitoring mechanisms in place in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) informed Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq on Sunday, that the southernmost city’s capital district has been placed under monitoring and lockdown following a confirmed coronavirus case in the district, starting 11am Sunday.

A Bangladeshi worker in the construction site of Addu High School tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday after completing the required 14-day quarantine period.

HPA has since launched contact tracing as per protocol.

Following the lockdown, residents of the district, which is also the most populated district of the city, will not be allowed to leave and entry into the district is also prohibited, with the exemption of entry approved by HPA.

Under the public health act of the Maldives, the Director General of Public Health Maimoona Aboobakuru has the power to impose monitoring measures and lockdown districts where Covid-19 cases have been confirmed.

During the lockdown period, residents have been urged to adhere to instructions and guidelines set by the authorities.

Further, authorities have also closed down schools for a period of two days, starting Monday.

Despite the closure of schools, public services will continue without interruption, said Sodiq, who has urged all residents to strictly adhere to the face mask mandate, which applies to all islands with confirmed Covid-19 cases.

On Saturday night, authorities confirmed a Covid-19 case from a police officer who travelled to Addu City’s Feydhoo district from capital city Malé. The officer tested positive while in quarantine and authorities have since revealed that other officers identified through contact tracing will be isolated as per protocol.

Covid-19 testing and treatment services are available in Addu Equatorial Hospital.