COVID-19: Maroshi, Kurendhoo placed under monitoring mechanisms

The islands of Sh. Maroshi and Lh. Kurendhoo have been placed under monitoring mechanisms after COVID-19 cases linked with the Naifaru cluster were identified in both islands. 

Maroshi Council President Abdul Azeez Mohamed said to Sun that the island was placed under monitoring mechanisms after an individual who traveled from Naifaru to the island tested positive for the virus. 

Naifaru has been under monitoring mechanisms after COVID-19 cases were detected on the island on March 23. More than 70 cases have been confirmed from the island since, making it one of the biggest outbreaks of the virus in the nation, apart from the capital Male' City. 

Abdul Azeez said that the individual who tested positive on the island was in self-isolation after Naifaru was placed under monitoring mechanisms on March 24. He added that contact tracing was underway on the island. 

Kurendhoo Council President Aishath Wishaama, speaking with Sun, said that the island was placed after confirmed cases on the island rose to 3. 

"Two that tested positive had traveled to Naifaru. The other tested positive from random sampling," said Wishaama.

Wishaama said that 52 people had been identified from contact tracing so far and more samples were being collected for the virus. 

The measures on Kurendhoo mean that effectively, all inhabited islands in Lh. Atoll have confirmed cases of the virus and are under monitoring mechanisms. 

17 islands are currently under monitoring mechanisms in the Maldives. They are:

• Lh. Hinnavaru
• Lh. Felivaru
• Lh. Olhuvelifushi
• Lh. Naifaru
• Lh. Kurendhoo
• Dh. Kudahuvadhoo
• Dh. Meedhoo
• R. Ungoofaaru
• R. Hulhudhuffaaru
• R. Maakurathu
• R. Alifushi
• R. Maduvvari
• K. Huraa
• K. Dhiffushi
• GDh. Thinadhoo
• N. Holhudhoo

More than 24,000 people have tested positive for the virus with 390 cases confirmed in the last 24 hours alone. The majority of the cases confirmed tonight were from atolls apart from the capital Male' City.