Health Emergency Operations Center HEOC has placed Meemu Atoll Kolhufushi and Alifu Alifu Atoll Thoddu under monitoring after COVID-19 cases were reported from the islands.
HEOC had said that Thoddu was placed under monitoring after an individual who traveled to Male' from the Island yesterday had tested positive for COVID-19. Health officials are expected to take random samples from the island and as the island is currently under monitoring status, inhabitants must wear a facemask when in public.
Meanwhile, Kolhufushi Council had said that a person who had stayed under quarantine at the island had tested positive for COVID-19 upon return to Male' but only after a stint on the island.
Speaking to 'the Press', an official from the council said the individual had met several contacts on the island during the trip to Kolhufushi and 9 of the contacts have now tested positive for COVID-19.
The official confirmed that the individual had stayed under quarantine for the mandatory period and was only released after a negative COVID-19 result. But with several contacts of the individual now infected with COVID-19, authorities have placed the island under monitoring.
HEOC had said that 105 random samples were tested for COVID-19 from Kolhufushi and that 9 had tested positive for the illness.
HEOC did not specify why the random samples were initially taken from the island.
