Coronavirus cases in Ihavandhoo rise to 5

Two more people have tested positive for the new coronavirus from Ihavandhoo, a residential island located in H. A. Atoll, increasing total coronavirus cases at the island to five.

A spokesperson from the health center in Ihavandhoo told Sun that the new cases are linked to the Thahth – a cargo boat registered to Ihavandhoo which travels between Male’ City and several northern islands.

The two are Bangladeshi nationals, and tested positive on Thursday.

“The two who tested positive are crew members of Thahth Boat,” said the spokesperson.

The first coronavirus case linked with Thahth Boat was identified on Sunday, August 2, when a crew member, a 41-year-old Maldivian man, tested positive.

Meanwhile, Ihavandhoo also has two more coronavirus cases, linked with the passenger boat 424. The two cases linked with 242 Boat are crew members of the boat.

With the two additional cases on Thursday, coronavirus cases linked with Thahth Boat has increased to three, while total coronavirus cases in Ihavandhoo have increased to five.

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.