China to build quarantine facilities in Maldives to house 800

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong, on Monday, announced that the Chinese government had pledged the assistance of its construction company, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, to build temporary quarantine facilities in Maldives as it faces a surge in virus cases.

According to Ambassador Zhang, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, one of the world’s largest construction companies, is sending over 100 workers, along with equipment and material in order to build the quarantine facilities.

The facilities will have the capacity to house maximum 800 people, he said.

Meanwhile, Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) has arranged a taskforce of 40 workers to help renovate a two-story building which is being converted to a 327-bed temporary quarantine facility in Hulhumale’.

According to National Emergency Operations Center, Maldives currently has more than 12 quarantine facilities, which have the capacity to accommodate approximately 1,100 people.

However, the surge in virus cases in Maldives has prompted the need for more quarantine facilities.

214 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, who have among them over 2,000 contacts who may have been exposed to the virus.

Health Minister Abdulla Ameen recently warned that if cases continued to increase, people may have to be quarantined at home.