Suspected case of Covid-19 in Maldives being tested

An individual who came into direct contact with a foreigner who tested positive for the Covid-19 virus is being tested.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) stated that the individual was a local who had been in direct contact with a foreign national who departed from the Maldives and later tested positive for the virus. The local was now exhibiting symptoms of the Covid-19 virus and was being kept in isolation.

It is speculated that the local was in contact with the individual who was an employee of the Bodufushi resort in R. Atoll who tested positive for the virus after returning to Turkey. Authorities in the Maldives have been conducting contact tracing of the person. The individual had arrived in the country last October and had departed on March 31.

“33 people have been so far identified and isolated. These include resort staff and the crew that traveled to the airport and airport ground staff as well as flight crews.” said government spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez.

Samples from 21 people have so far been collected and Mabrouq said that the number may increase as the authorities were still working to identify those in close contact with the individual.