Covid-19 tourist offloaded from flight, treated after dizzy spells at Maldives airport

The Italian national who holidayed in Maldives and was confirmed positive to covid-19 upon arrival in Italy, was initially offloaded from an Alitalia flight for experiencing dizzy spells, "Sun Online" learns.

Multiple sources confirmed to "Sun Online" today that the Italian tourist holidaying at Kuredu Island Resort in the Maldives was scheduled to leave the Maldives on 1st March 2020.

However, the flight's captain refused to let him fly after he reportedly experienced dizzy spells on flight. The Italian national was then offloaded from the flight.

Sources have told "Sun Online" that the tourist then sought medical attention at the clinic at the Maldives' main airport, Velana International Airport. He had previously sought treatment with the resident doctor at Kuredu Resort too.

Earlier today at a press briefing, Maldivian government's spokesperson on covid-19, Undersecretary at the President's Office Mohamed Mabrouq Azeez said that the Italian tourist had difficulties on flying back home and therefore had arrived in Male City on transit.

He stayed at the Maagiri Hotel, a city hotel located at a prime area of the city from 1st to 2nd March. During this period, he had visited the local ticketing office of Emirates. He had left the Maldives on the 2nd of March, on an Emirates flight.

Mabrouq revealed that 15 staff members of Maagiri Hotel were undergoing self-isolation under Health Protection Agency (HPA)'s recommendation. A female employee at the Emirates ticketing office in Male who served the Italian tourist was also recommended self-isolation. However, she was taken to the designated isolation facility today after developing symptoms of covid-19.

The resident doctor who examined the Italian tourist at Kuredu Resort was tested positive to covid-19. One other staff member at Kuredu was also confirmed positive. both staff members are foreigners, and currently under quarantine.

"Sun" has also learned that the Italian tourist experienced a blackout during his stay at Kuredu Resort, but the property's managemenet had taken the issue very lightly.

Kuredu Island Resort is currently under alert level "orange", and a lockdown is imposed. Currently there are about 700 tourists and more than 500 staff members on the island. Kuredu Resort said in a statement yesterday that temporary restrictive measures will continue until the authorities release the island from its quarantine period.

"At this time there will be no flight in or out of the island. The island is well stocked with the essentials and we are confident in the care that will be provided to all. Our responsibility to our guests, employees and the general public remains paramount. We will continue to release more information as it becomes available," said Kuredu Resort via the property's Facebook.

Two other positive cases of covid-19 were confirmed by the Maldivian health authorities today. The HPA said the positive cases were of two tourists holidaying at Sandies Bathala Maldives resort. The Planhotel Hospitality Group property on Bathala island in North Ari Atoll is also under the health authorities' watch.