Worker flees resort, swims to Meedhoo in violation of travel ban

Maldives Police Service, on Monday, arrested a resort worker after he swam to Meedhoo, Addu City, in violation of a 14-day ban on travel between resorts and residential islands put in place to prevent and contain a COVID-19 outbreak in Maldives.

A police spokesperson confirmed the incident took place at approximately 13:55 on Monday.

The spokesperson said the resort worker was placed under arrest same day, after he was taken to the Meedhoo Health Center to ascertain he did not exhibit any symptoms consistent with the deadly COVID-19 virus, and posed no threat to public health.

Maldives has declared a state of public health emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Director-General of Public Health, on Saturday, issued an order to ban the travel of any persons to or from a resort to any residential island, for 14 days.

The only resort workers permitted to leave resorts during this time are those who are required to escort tourists to the airport.

And while crew members of cargo boats which operate to resorts are permitted to disembark on resort jetties, they will not be permitted to leave if they venture into the resort.

Maldives Police Service says it is committed to enforcing all orders issued by government agencies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

13 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either working or vacationing in resorts. Of the 13 people, five were from Kuredu Island Resort, two from Island Safari-1, two from Sandies Bathala, two from Kuramathi Island Resort, and two from Anantara Dhigu.