HA. Baarah brought under monitoring mechanisms

The island of HA. Baarah has been brought under monitoring mechanisms after nine people who completed home-quarantine and had contact with other residents on the island afterward, tested positive for COVID-19. 

Council President Ali Shameem said to Sun that one of the positive cases was a 65-year old high-risk individual. The individual was being moved to the COVID-19 facility in Sh. Funadhoo.

The island was brought under monitoring mechanisms because the positive individuals resided in the same house where other residents of the island also lived in.

"They lived in a house of five rooms. They are a huge family. They all used the kitchen and dining room. Islanders complained that the individuals had come into contact with four other people living in a separate room of the house, which led to the monitoring mechanisms being initiated," said Shameem. 

Shameem said that tests were being conducted on the contacts. 

The Maldives has confirmed more than 19,700 cases of the virus with 62 deaths.