Violent altercation by migrants housed in state quarantine facility

A violent altercation has occurred between migrant workers being housed at a quarantine facility in Hulhumale’. 

Police stated that the incident occurred around 20:50 tonight. Migrants being housed in the facility had thrown chairs at the officers maintaining security at the facility, read a statement by Police.

The reason for the altercation was not specified by the authorities who added that things subsided in the facility after dialogue between the authorities and the migrants.

Police also stated that no one was hurt and no one was arrested in connection with the incident.

Maldives has confirmed 1,371 cases of COVID-19. The majority of these cases occurred in the large migrant population living in the capital. 

More than 600 Bangladeshi nationals and 170 Indian nationals have tested positive for the virus.

The living conditions of some migrants had led to alarming concerns which prompted the government to move them into state facilities. for fear of being exposed to the virus.