Kuredu to be closed until end of June

Kuredu Island Resort & Spa, on Tuesday, announced the decision to suspend its operations, effective from April 15 to June 30.

The resort announced the decision in a short statement this afternoon.

“The health and safety of our guests and team members is our prime priority, and due to our purpose of care, Kuredu Island Resort & Spa will be suspending operations from 15th April 2020 through 30th June 2020,” said Kuredu in its statement.

The resort, operated by the resort chain Crown & Champa Resorts, also expressed appreciation for the support it received from business partners, guests and staff members.

An island resort located in Lh. Atoll, Kuredu is linked with the first COVID-19 cases reported in Maldives, two resort workers who had contact with an Italian tourist who vacationed at the resort, and later tested positive for the virus upon return to Italy.

Five have tested positive for the virus from Kuredu.

The cases led to Health Protection Agency (HPA) ordering a lockdown on the resort as it conducted contact tracing. The resort was later partially opened on March 12 to allow the departure of stranded tourists cleared for the virus, while areas holding people in isolation remained cordoned off.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard with thousands of booking cancellations reported each day. Many resorts have now suspended operations. Some resort workers have been put on paid leave, while others have been laid off or forced to accept no-pay leave.

13 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either working or vacationing in resorts or safaris. Of the 13 people, five were from Kuredu Island Resort, two from Sandies Bathala, two from Kuramathi Island Resort, two from Anantara Dhigu, and two from Island Safari-1.

Five have since recovered, but continue to be closely monitored at isolation facilities.