Maldives confirms fifth local case of Covid-19

A fifth local has been tested positive for the Covid-19 virus in the Maldives.

HPA announced that the individual was quarantined in the facility in Eriyadoo. The individual had returned from the Philippines before being placed in quarantine.

The positive case means that the country has five local cases, four of whom are returnees from the UK. The previous four were also placed in the mandatory government quarantine for locals returning from abroad before testing positive for the virus.

The government had evacuated locals in the Philippines who had requested to return home. They include 61 students including medical students who were evacuated on March 28 and placed in quarantine for 14-days. All such returnees are to be released after testing negative for the virus upon completing their quarantine periods.

The Maldives has now confirmed 20 cases of the pandemic virus along with the positive case today. The country confirmed its first case on March 7. Out of the 20 confirmed, 15 are foreigners. 13 of these foreigners have since made full recoveries from the virus.

Currently, only the five local cases are being treated for the virus as two foreign tourists who tested positive for the virus departed from the country upon completing their quarantine periods. The test results of the two tourists were only received after they had departed.

The Maldives is in state of public health emergency after the government made a declaration on March 12 which will expire on April 30. The government offices in the country have been closed for nearly a month.

Schools, colleges and universities have also been closed as well as Cafés and restaurants as the government urges people to remain indoors during this time and practice social distancing. The country has also stopped issuing on-arrival visas and begun repatriation flights to return locals stuck abroad.