Travel clinic in Male’ as confirmed cases hit 6

The Maldivian government has announced plans to open a travel clinic in the capital Male’ City to enable prompt screening and testing in suspected cases of COVID-19 infections.

The new coronavirus has infected over 113,000 and killed over 4,000 people worldwide. Six people – all foreign nationals – have tested positive for the virus in Maldives.

At a press conference on Monday night, spokesperson Mabrook Azeez said that a travel clinic would be opened in the vacant lot at the back of government housing complex Male’ Hiyaa-2 at 10 am this Tuesday.

“The purpose of this clinic is to facilitate the testing of people who have travelled abroad or people who show symptoms of the disease in Maldives,” said Mabrook.

He did not disclose any further details.

All six confirmed cases in Maldives came from tourist resorts; four from Kuredu and two from Sandies Bathala. Both resorts remain under lockdown and the people who have had close contact with the people who tested positive are in self-isolation in their rooms.

Mabrook said that the number of people in self-isolation in Kuredu was 90, and that none of them showed symptoms of the virus.

11 people are under quarantine or isolation at the facility in Farukolhufushi. They include people from Kuredu and Foakaidhoo who showed symptoms of the disease.