Maldivian national in JA Manafaru being tested for COVID-19

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Wednesday, announced samples were being taken from a Maldivian national in JA Manafaru, an island resort located in H. A. Atoll, who had developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19, as a precautionary measure.

The individual in question has been placed under self-isolation, and the resort is now under monitoring – meaning the implementation of measures to restrict travel in and out of the island.

The restrictions will remain in place until HPA receives the result of the samples taken from the individual and completed contact tracing.

HPA currently has two resorts under monitoring; JA Manafaru and Reethi Beach, an island resort located in B. Atoll, from where samples were taken from two resort workers - a Maldivian national and foreign national - who developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19 on Tuesday.

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 in isolation facilities.

Maldivian health authorities have warned the recoveries of the five patients, and the success in containing the virus so far did not make the risk the virus posed to the general population any less.

People have been urged to remain vigilant and stay at home.