For the first time in Maldives, two individuals have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus dubbed COVID-19 according to the special task force monitoring the pandemic.
At the press conference on Saturday evening, the confirmation was made by task force in presence of local media.
Minister of Health Mr Abdulla Ameen during the press conference at Dharubaaruge convention center noted that through contact tracing and quarantining, two individuals from the tourist island of Kuredhu Island Resort were tested positive.
Minister noted the quarantining commenced following the news of an Italian traveler who stayed at the resort, was reported positive for the virus when screened at home country.
Following the suspected cases for the presence of the novel coronavirus, the tourist island was brought under transport lockdown barring any arrival or departure from the slip.
Minister of Tourism Mr Ali Waheed further noted the two individuals tested positive for the virus are expatriate employees at the resort.
However the delegation of the COVID-19 task force excused from disclosing any personal details related to the suspected cases.
Tourism Minister further confirmed Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will be meeting with his cabinet sometime on Saturday evening regarding the efforts made to combat the viral pandemic.
An additional press briefing is expected on Saturday evening with the presence of local military and police along with officials of State Trading Organization.
As per the international guidelines on the COVID-19 presence, no suspected or positive cases of the virus means a 'White' status for a island, city or a country.
The situation gets shifted to a 'Yellow' status should a foreign traveler arriving at the base country; within an island or city, is found positive to the virus.
The guidelines further dictate that should a local of an island, city or the country is tested positive for the virus, the status further drops to 'Orange.'
The task force commented Kuredhu Island Resort has been dropped to an 'Orange' status since the presence of two COVID-19 cases have become positive.
