Man quarantined in Kudarikilu tests positive for coronavirus

An individual under home quarantine in Kudarikilu, a residential island in B. Atoll, has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Kudarikilu Council president Abdul Hannan Abbas identified the individual who tested positive as a 36-year-old Bangladeshi man.

He was tested upon completion of the 14-day quarantine period on Thursday morning.

“B. Atoll Hospital has informed us that the sample they took in the morning upon completion of the 14 days has tested positive,” he said.

Abdul Hannan Abbas told Sun that the man had been quarantined alone, and did not have contact with anyone else.

It marks the first coronavirus case to be confirmed in Kudarikilu.

Health Protection Agency requires all those who travel from Male’ City to residential islands to undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine and testing clearing them of the new coronavirus before they are allowed to mingle with the local population.

Several people who have travelled to residential islands from the greater Male’ region – which is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases with the relaxation of the lockdown – have tested positive in recent days.

Following the surge in cases, authorities implemented have additional restrictions, including imposing a temporary ban on travel of persons from Male’ to other residential islands, except those who travel to the capital to access essential services such as healthcare.

Wearing masks when out in public in the greater Male’ region and residential islands with confirmed coronavirus cases is now mandatory, and the wearing of masks in all residential islands, including those with no confirmed cases has been declared highly recommended.

Maldives has 4,680 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 86 new cases recorded on Thursday. 2,725 of the patients have since recovered, while 19 have died from complications.

The country now has 1,936 active cases. 128 coronavirus patients are hospitalized.