Major shopping mart, VB halts operations after virus cases

VB Brothers, one of the biggest shopping marts in the country has temporarily suspended operations after some employees tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement, the company stated that eight of its employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The stores of the company would remain closed for the time being read the statement.

The employees who had tested positive include one from the VB store in the market area of Male’ Cut, three employees who worked in the Galolhu mart, and four other employees who worked at the Maafannu store.

VB is one of the biggest wholesalers and retailers of essential household items in the country. The company’s operations extend to all over the country and is a common household name in the country.

The company had so far been providing its essential services amid the lockdown order in the capital. It had adhered to the standards of safety set by the authorities for its operations. The company stated that it saw the operations as a national duty during this delicate time.

The suspension of operations means that the company would not be able to deliver goods that have been ordered beforehand. The company sincerely apologized for any inconvenience caused as a result of the suspension. 

Operations are set to begin as soon as the appropriate safety measures are taken under the instructions of HPA. The company added that those employees that tested positive were all doing well and that the operations to disinfect the outlets of the company were now underway.

A community outbreak of the virus was later identified on April 15. The Maldives has so far confirmed 1020 cases of the virus.

The country passed the 1000 case mark today. The majority of the cases have been identified in the capital. Most of the cases in the capital had originated among the large migrant worker community.

Cases were also identified in the islands of Hinmafushi in K. Atoll and Manadhoo in N. Atoll today.

Nine had tested positive from Manadhoo after contact with an elderly virus patient. Three individuals have also tested positive today from the Rehabilitation Center in Hinmafushi. Both islands are in a state of lockdown following the confirmed cases. 

The country is expected to observe a surge in the number of cases by the end of this month. Experts have now reduced the initial projections due to the effectiveness of lockdown measures, and are now expecting a smaller surge.

Projections made for the country currently show that it could see 77,000 cases in total. The number of deaths could be as high as 900. So far the country has recorded just four deaths from the virus.