The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has confirmed a local transmission of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, in Kulhudhuffushi City of Haa Dhaal atoll.

Spokesperson at the center, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed that four contacts of previously detected cases from the northern city had tested positive for the virus on October 17.

Due to the new cases, authorities have begun implementing additional measures to curb the spread of the virus in Kulhudhuffushi.

The HEOC spokesperson also added that the city’s Covid-19 task force has since engaged with discussions on how to proceed, with the Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s technical team following which instructions have been provided on required measures.

Findings so far indicate a local transmission in the island and authorities will provide further details regarding the local transmission during Monday night’s HEOC press briefing.

On Sunday, four additional cases were confirmed in the northern city, all contacts of previously detected cases.

This has pushed the total number of Covid-19 infections in the city to 11, which includes eight contacts and two individuals who provided random samples as well as one person who tested positive after exhibiting symptoms.

Due to the looming threats of the pandemic in the city, the city council has urged its residents to strictly adhere to precautionary measures in place, and pay special attention to instructions and guidelines provided by the public health authorities and health experts.

On Saturday night, authorities extended the monitoring measures placed in Kulhudhuffushi, from 10:35pm onwards in order to conduct further inspections.

This is the fourth time the monitoring measures placed has been extended in Kulhudhuffushi.