Authorities in Gaafu Dhaalu Madaveli have quarantined a fishing vessel from the island returning back from a trip to the Male’ Area where the COVID-19 pandemic is still rampant.
Speaking to ‘The Press’ President of Madaveli Council Hameez Ahmed said that the fishing vessel had returned to the island on the 10th of this month and had since been under quarantine.
He clarified island authorities took the decision to quarantine the vessel for the safety of the inhabitants of the island.
Hameez said the vessel has 24 individuals on board and that they would be quarantined for a period of 14 days since the vessel left port in Male’ Area.
Hameez also said that the vessel was quarantined after traveling to the Male’ Area on the 1st of this month and the vessel owner could not with certainty confirm whether a crew member had disembarked in the Male’ area or whether any individual from the area had boarded the vessel. He added that the island council had discussed the matter with the COVID-19 taskforce on the island and came to the decision to quarantine the vessel.
The island of Madaveli is currently under Health Protection Agency HPA monitoring following the local transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic in the neighboring Hoadehdhoo which is connected to Madaveli via a causeway.
Reporting on the situation on the island, Hameez assured that there have been no reports of any inhabitant with COVID-19 like symptoms from the island and that all the random samples taken from the island came back negative.
He said that the situation on the island is stable and that inhabitants are going out only for essential needs. He added that all are following HPA guidelines even when going outside including wearing facemasks and maintaining social distancing.
