Health Protection Agency HPA has placed two more islands from Raa Atoll under monitoring after individuals who traveled to Ungoofaaru of the same atoll tested positive for COVID-19.
The latest islands to join the growing list of islands under monitoring are Maduvari and Hulhudhuhfaaru.
Sources from Maduvari had said that a person who had traveled to Ungoofaaru on the 2nd of this month had tested positive for COVID-19. Sources have also said that contact tracing and case investigation is currently underway on the island.
Meanwhile, HPA is also conducting contact tracing and case investigation in Hulhudhufaaru of the same atoll after a person with a travel history to Ungoofaaru tested positive for COVID-19.
Speaking to "The Press" President of the island council Ali Javid said that HPA has now banned unauthorized entry or exit onto the country and that it was effectively under monitoring.
He further said that on the 2nd of this month, a huge number of people from the island had traveled to the Atoll's hotspot Ungoofaaru and that the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 was among them.
Javid said the list of people who traveled to Ungoofaaru surpasses 100 and that samples have been taken from all those in the list. He added that some of these samples are currently pending in the laboratory.
HPA had confirmed that 13 islands are currently under monitoring across the Maldives. This includes Noonu Lhohi, Raa Ungoofaaru, Lhaviyani Naifaru, Kaafu Huraa, Kaafu Dhifushi, Alifu Dhaalu Fenfushi, Alifu Alifu Thoddu, Faafu Nilandhoo, Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo, Dhaalu Meedhoo, Gaafu Alifu Villigilli, Raa Maduvari, and Raa Hulhudhufaaru.