Six detainees at Hulhumalé Detention Center test positive for the global Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Maldives Correctional Service cited the Health Protection Agency (HPA) having stated that five of the six detainees were being held at the facility temporarily, for deportation for violating the immigration laws of the Maldives. The remaining detainee was a prisoner at the Hulhumalé Prison.

The authority revealed that the Covid-19 outbreak in the facility is most probably due to the foreign detainees who were moved to the facility recently.

Due to the recent cases, samples have been collected for Covid-19 testing from 10 officers, two nurses and 19 detainees.

The correctional authority assured that it will continue to enforce measures and uninterruptedly provide services at prison and detention facilities under the guidelines set by HPA in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.