13 samples taken from inmates in Annex I of Male' Prison have tested positive for Covid-19, with authorities moving to lockdown the space in order to prevent transmission of the virus.

In a tweet posted on Sunday afternoon, Maldives Correctional Service confirmed that 13 inmates had tested positive for Covid-19 from Annex I of Male' Prison from samples taken on 24 April 2021. Following this, Annex I of Male' Prison has been placed under lockdown as the Maldives Correctional Service implements all necessary Covid-19 health and safety measures across the complex.

The Hulhumale' Prison was also placed under lockdown earlier this year as a number of inmates and security guards tested positive for Covid-19.

While health and safety regulations have been tightened in prisons across the country in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19, those that test positive for the infection in prisons are moved to quarantine facilities once their status is confirmed. Authorities then continue to perform contact tracing, and have previously conducted random sampling for prisons to gauge whether the virus had been spreading within prison establishments.