COVID-19: Crew member of Ihavandhoo cargo boat tests positive

A crew member of a cargo boat – Thahth - which travels between H. A. Ihavandhoo and Male’ City has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

An official from the Amina Dhiyo health center located in Ihavandhoo identified the crew member who tested positive as a 41-year-old Maldivian male.

The results were informed by Health Protection Agency (HPA on Sunday night.

“His sample was taken today. And he was informed he tested positive tonight,” said the official.

The official said the case is deeply concerning as the boat transports cargo across the atoll.

“Contact tracing to identify those he came in contact with is underway,” said the official.

The case comes barely three days after a crew member of another boat which travels between Ihavandhoo and Male’ City tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Several people who have travelled to residential islands from the greater Male’ region – the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Maldives– have tested positive in recent days.

There are 10 islands outside of the capital with active cases. They are:

• H. A. Kelaa
• H. A. Ihavanandhoo
• N. Medhufaru (Soneva Jani)
• B. Eydhafushi
• B. Thulhaadhoo
• B. Hithaadhoo
• Lh. Kurendhoo
• Lh. Hinnavaru
• K. Maafushi
• V. Fulidhoo

Coronavirus cases have surged with the relaxation of the lockdown on Male’ – the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Maldives – in July. More than 860 people have tested positive over the last one-week period alone.

Maldives has 4,164 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 215 new cases recorded on Sunday – marking the biggest single-day spike in coronavirus cases to be recorded in the country. 2,643 patients have since recovered, while 18 have died from complications. The latest fatality was recorded earlier on Sunday, and had come less than 24-hours after the previous one.

The country currently has 1,489 active cases. 84 of the coronavirus patients are hospitalized.