Kulhudhuffushi monitoring to be lifted once Covid-19 spread is under control

The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has revealed that monitoring measures in Kulhudhuffushi City will only be lifted once Covid-19 transmission is controlled.

Speaking to press on Saturday night, the center’s spokesperson, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed that authorities are currently working to control the local transmission confirmed in the northernmost city last week.

As such, an operation center has been stationed at the island to enhance the capacity of the island’s task force.

Dr. Nazla went on to add that a flu clinic has also been established in the island, at a time all relevant authorities have engaged in efforts to control the Covid-19 transmission.

Monitoring measures remain effective in the island so that authorities will be able to identify the spread of the virus among the community.

While samples were collected from 59 symptomatic individuals in the island since October 17, none of the test results came back positive, said the spokesperson.

The task force has also collected random samples from 120 individuals in the first round, another round is expected to follow in order to identify the rate of transmission.

The first Covid-19 case was discovered in the island on September 28 and since then, monitoring measures in the island have been extended four times round. The latest infections were detected in the island on October 18, when four members of the family of a police officer tested positive.

19 Covid-19 cases have been linked to the north police cluster thus far, including 13 in Kulhudhuffushi City, one in Kurin’bi island, one in Foakaidhoo island and four from Dhidhdhoo island.

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.