HEOC confirms local transmission of COVID-19 in Kulhudhuffushi

Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), on Sunday, confirmed local transmission of COVID-19 in Kulhudhuffushi City.

According to HEOC, four new cases were confirmed in Kulhudhuffushi on Saturday, during contact tracing and testing in response to cases identified in the city this October.

Additional measures for disease control have been implemented in Kulhudhuffushi in response to the new developments, and Health Protection Agency (HPA) technical team held discussions with COVID-19 taskforce in the city and provided them with guidance on how to proceed with their work.

HEOC said that based on the information available at this point, it believed that a local transmission of COVID-19 took place in Kulhudhuffushi.

HEOC said that additional information regarding the cases in Kulhudhuffushi will be provided during the next press briefing.

A police officer who presented to the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital with flu symptoms tested positive for COVID-19 on October 5, prompting HPA to place the city, along with H. A. Dhidhdhoo, H. A. Hoarafushi, H. A. Baarah, H. Dh. Kurinbi, and Sh. Funadhoo under monitoring due to his recent travel history to police stations in each of the islands. The monitoring measures were lifted upon completion of contact tracing on October 6.

However, two more police officers in Kulhudhuffushi tested positive on October 16, prompting HPA to re-implement monitoring measures in the city.

Following the discovery of the cluster in Kulhudhuffushi, the local council has advised residents take protective measures and to stay home unless absolutely necessary.

53 residences in Kulhudhuffushi have been placed under monitoring.