COVID-19: Himandhoo under monitoring after sailor tests positive

AA. Himandhoo has confirmed a COVID-19 case, prompting health authorities to place the island under monitoring.

Himandhoo Council vice president Zainal Ibad identified the person who tested positive from the island as a crew member of a boat that travels to Male’ City – the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Maldives.

Zainal Ibad said the case was identified through random testing.

“His sample tested positive for COVID,” he said.

Zainal Ibad said that at least 15 people have been identified as direct contacts. Samples have been taken from all 15 contacts. However, the results remain pending.

Maldives has experienced a surge in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks – both in the capital and in residential islands outside the capital. 402 new cases were recorded on Saturday, following 465 new cases were recorded on Friday – the highest single-day spike the country has recorded to date.

There are over 20 residential islands outside of the greater Male' region under quarantine, including the populous Addu City and Kulhudhuffushi City.

HPA has imposed a ban on non-essential domestic travel to curb the surge.