Infected tourist spent 2 days in Male' city before departure

Maldivian authorities announces that an Italian who tested positive for covid-19 upon arrival in Italy from Maldives, had spent two days in the congested capital of Male City.

Government spokesperson on covid-19, Mohamed Mabrouq Azeez said today that health authorities have identified 16 persons who were in contact with the Italian national, and that all of them have been isolated.

The Italian holidayed in Kuredu Island Resort departed from the Maldives on 2nd March 2020. After his departure, two staffs at Kuredu Resort were tested positive to covid-19, and are currently quarantined. 

Spokesperson Mabrouq revealed that the tourist spent two days (1st-2nd March) at Maagiri Hotel in Male, and that he had visited the Emirates airline ticketing office in Male during the time.

Samples were taken from 15 employees of Maagiri Hotel who were then placed in isolation. An employee of the Emirates ticketing office also exhibited covid-19 symptoms, and was placed under quarantine today. Mabrouq said that the employee had been in self-isolation until transported to the designated quarantine facility.

Kuredu Island Resort is on alert level orange, and an imposed lockdown is underway. Health authorities are currently conducting contact-tracing at Kuredu.

Mabrouq said that the government is looking into how and why health authorities did not know about the tourist's stay in Male. He assured that the government will take action against any negligence.

Until today, a total of four people have been tested positive for covid-19 in the Maldives. They are two foreign employees at Kuredu Resort and two tourists at Sandies Bathala Resort.

Spokesperson Mabrouq said today that a 49 out of 63 test samples in the Maldives had been confirmed negative.

He also said that since the identification of a covid-19 suspect in Foakaidhoo Island of Shaviyani Atoll, nine people from the island are kept under home isolation. One would be brought to the isolation facility in Farukolhufushi today.

One other suspect is under self-isolation in Hinnavaru Island of Lhaviyani Atoll. His samples will be taken for testing today.