Restrictions back in place on Reethi Beach, with 2 new possible virus cases

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Tuesday, imposed restrictive measures back in place on Reethi Beach, an island resort located in B. Atoll, after two resort workers began exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

During a press conference at the National Emergency Operations Center this afternoon, government spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez said that two people employed by Reethi Beach – identified as a Maldivian national and a foreign national – showed symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

He said the resort was being monitored by HPA, and that restrictive measures would remain in place until the agency received results on the samples taken from the two to test them for the virus.

It marks the second time for Reethi Beach to have restrictive measures imposed on it over virus fears, the first being when a foreign national employed by the resort exhibited flu symptoms and was tested for the virus. The restrictions were lifted after the worker tested negative.

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

Five have since recovered, but continue to be closely monitored at isolation facilities.

Maldivian health authorities have warned the recoveries of the five patients, and the success in containing the virus so far did not make the risk the virus posed to the general population any less.

People have been urged to remain vigilant and stay at home.