Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed, on Thursday, stated that three additional resorts were designated as quarantine centres for individuals leaving the capital city of Male’ amid the lockdown imposed over the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
The resorts newly allocated as quarantine facilities are Hondaafushi Island Resort in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Filitheyo Island Resort in Faafu Atoll and Medhufushi Island Resort in Meemu Atoll.
There are now seven resorts specifically designated to quarantine people leaving the capital city of Male’. The others are Sun Aqua Iru Veli in Dhaalu Atoll, Fushifaru Maldives in Lhaviyani Atoll, Furaveri Island Resort and Spa in Raa Atoll and Canareef Resort Maldives in Addu Atoll.
Following a 14-day quarantine period, individuals will be tested for COVID-19 and will be permitted to travel back to their islands if the results are negative.
The tourism minister asserted that quarantine measures were crucial in reducing the spread of the virus in other atolls despite the inconveniences presented.
Amid the ongoing state of public health, emergency declared on March 12, the administration first imposed the lockdown across the Greater Male’ Region on April 15, after a Maldivian national living in the capital tested positive for COVID-19. The lockdown has since been extended multiple times, with the latest development placing its deadline on May 28.
Following the lockdown, a number of locals, from various regions across the archipelago, found themselves stranded in the capital area. Authorities have since begun issuing authorisation for those with pressing needs to leave Male’ and return to their home islands.
On Tuesday, the Local Government Authority (LGA) revealed that over 5,000 people had registered at various institutions, requesting to leave the capital and return to their islands of residence.
The capital city Malé, one of the most densely populated places in the world, has recorded a significant increase in COVID-19 cases since recording its first local transmission.
The Maldives now records a total of 968 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 924 active cases, four fatalities and a total of 40 recoveries.
The new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 4.4 million people and claimed over 298,300 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, 1.6 million people have recovered.
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Source URL: Google News
