Presidential retreat designated as primary quarantine facility

The Maldivian government, on Sunday, announced the decision to repurpose K. Aarah, presently used as a presidential retreat, and establish a quarantine facility in the island which will be used as the primary quarantine facility in case of a potential outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Maldives.

The announcement was delivered by Tourism Minister Ali Waheed during a press conference at the President’s Office.

Ali Waheed said that it had been President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih himself who suggested that Aarah be repurposed as a quarantine facility, and that the island had already been made ready for use to quarantine people if the need arose.

“Aarah is in a state of readiness in response to this [global outbreak of novel coronavirus]. The President has offered to the taskforce the option of using it as the primary quarantine facility if the need ever arises to quarantine the Maldivian people, a tourist, or anyone necessary,” said Ali Waheed.

The move follows earlier decisions by the government to establish a quarantine facility in K. Fonadhoo, an industrial island presently used by State Trading Organization (STO) to store fuel, and to establish additional quarantine facilities in Phase I and Phase II of suburban Hulhumale’.

The decision to use Fonadhoo, which houses a number of STO staff, for quarantine was met with criticism by the general public.

Addressing this, Ali Waheed acknowledged that Fonadhoo was used as one of STO’s primary fuel storage facilities, and said that the government would not ignore the concern of even one of STO’s employees stationed in Fonadhoo.

He promised the government would consider the concerns of the general public regarding the use of Fonadhoo to quarantine people.

Meanwhile, one more room will be added to the quarantine facility in Hulhumale’ Phase II this Sunday night, said Ali Waheed.

He also announced plans to prepare an island for use as a quarantine island is case of a potential outbreak.

“We assure the Maldivian people that the government is prepared to respond to any situation which Maldives must be ready for, with respect to the speed at which the coronavirus is spreading, globally,” said Ali Waheed.