Five more resorts being monitored over new suspected COVID-19 cases

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has begun monitoring five more resort islands following the emergence of suspected COVID-19 cases.

The new resort islands which have been placed under “monitoring status” are:

• Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa (Sh. Furanafushi)
• Bandos Maldives (K. Bandos)
• Olhuveli Beach & Spa Maldives (K. Olhuveli)
• Meeru Island (K. Meerufenfushi)
• Dreamland Maldives (B. Hiru’dhoo)

According to HPA, samples have been taken from one foreign national in Sheraton Full Moon who exhibited COVID-19 symptoms for testing, and contact tracing is in progress to identify persons who may have been exposed.

Samples have also been taken from two foreign nationals in Olhuveli, one foreign national each from Bandos, Meeru and Dreamland, who also exhibited COVID-19 symptoms.

Meanwhile, additional resorts which had been previously linked with either confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases also remain under monitoring status.

The resorts are:

• Kuredu (Lh. Kuredhdhoo)
• Sandies Bathala (A. A. Bathala)
• Kuramathi Island Resort (A. A. Kuramathi)
• Summer Island (K. Ziyaaraihfushi)
• Vilamendhoo Resort (A. Dh. Vilamendhoo)
• OBLU SELECT at Sangeli (K. Akirifushi)

Meanwhile, a local safari, White Waves, has also been placed under monitoring status after two foreign nationals on board the vessel began exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms; along with residential island B. Fehendhoo which has reported one suspected case.

Nine people have tested positive for the deadly virus in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who either worked at, or were vacationing at resorts.

Maldives is currently under a 30-day state of public health emergency.